In vitro effects of various metals on natural killer cell activity in cultured human lymphocytes

Heavy metals have been shown to have a differential effects on various aspe cts of immune response. Recently natural killer cells have been widely inve stigated due to their purported role in immune surveillance. To ascertain t he immunotoxic effects of lead, cadmium, nickel and chromium on natural kil ler (NK) cell activity in vitro, peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal d onors were examined in the presence of different concentrations (10(-5)-10( -8) M) of four selected metal salts (cadmium sulphate, lead nitrate, chromi um nitrate and nickel sulphated. NK cell activity was evaluated in a 4-h ch romium release assay against K562 target cells. All of the metal salts were found to exert no effect on NK cell function in the human concentration ra nge.