Fluoride augments the mitogenic and antigenic response of human blood lymphocytes in vitro

It has been shown that fluoride, the agent responsible for reduction of den tal caries worldwide and a recognized proliferative agent, is an adjuvant w hen given intragastrically to rats. Furthermore, plasma fluoride levels inc rease in humans after various fluoride treatments. The studies presented he re show that fluoride also has the ability to affect the cells of the human immune system. This was tested by measuring the effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) on cytokine production by human whole blood cells stimulated in vitro . These studies revealed that NaF augments the human lymphocyte response fr om human blood to a mitogen (phytohemagglutinin, PHA) or a specific antigen (morbilli antigen from infected cells, MorbAg), The cytokine interferon-ga mma (IFN-gamma), released from activated T and/or NK cells, was significant ly (p<0.01) increased when whole blood cells were simultaneously incubated with 0.62 mmol/l NaF and PHA compared to PHA alone. This tendency was also true for NaF and MorbAg. The lymphocyte activation marker interleukin-2 rec eptor (measured in soluble form) increased after simultaneous stimulation o f the cells with PHA and 0.62 mmol/l NaF compared to stimulation with PHA o nly. However, 0.62 mmol/l NaF did not enhance interleukin-6 release, in blo od mainly produced by monocytes. The ability to influence the IFN-gamma rel ease during an immune response could be one of the primary means by which t he fluoride ion influences the immune system.