APOPTOSIS-MEDIATED IMMUNOTOXICITY OF POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS (PCBS)IN MURINE SPLENOCYTES

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exhibited immunotoxicity on antibody forming response to T-dependent antigen of sheep red blood cells, prim ary activation of T cells by mixed lymphocyte response, and lymphocyte proliferation induced by various mitogens. These immunosuppressions w ere related with the loss of lymphocyte viability which was determined by the propidium iodide method, and this death was proven to be linke d with apoptosis which showed DNA fragmentation detected by the diphen ylamine method and agarose gel electrophoresis. The degree of DNA frag mentation was increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner in PCB-tr eated splenocytes. In conclusion, it was assumed that apoptosis was at tributable to the immunotoxicity of PCBs in murine splenocytes. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.