CHANGES IN T-CELL SUBPOPULATIONS IN LEAD WORKERS

To investigate the effects of lead on the human immune system, we anal yzed T cell subpopulations and B (CD19+) cells in peripheral blood in 71 male lead workers. They were engaged in manufacturing lead stearate in a chemical factory, aged 20 to 74 (mean 48) years, Their blood lea d concentrations (PbB) were between 7 and 50 (mean 19) mu g/dl. The co ntrol group consisted of 28 ''healthy'' male volunteers without a hist ory of occupational exposure to lead or other hazardous substances, ag ed 33 to 67 (mean 55) years, In comparison with the controls, a signif icant reduction in the number of CD3+CD45RO+ (memory T) cells and a si gnificant expansion in the percentage of CD8+ cells in the lead worker s were found. There was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of CD3+CD45RA+ (naive T) cells and PbB in the lead workers . It is suggested that CD45RO+ memory T cells may be most susceptible to the effects of lead on T cell subpopulations. (C) 1998 Academic Pre ss.