No Immunotoxic Effect on T Cells with di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Male C57BL/6 Mice

• Published in: Environmental health and preventive medicine 2003-01, Vol.8 (2), p.59-63
• Main Authors: Sasaki, Taku, Yoshikawa, Kunie, Harada, Hiroshi, Arai, Soichi, Takita, Toshichika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1342-078X; 1347-4715
• DOI: 10.1265/ehpm.8.59

Objectives: To clarify whether di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has immunotoxic effects on both the expression of surface molecules (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD28) on T cells of the thymus and spleen in male C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Animals were orally administered a 0.1% or 0.2% DEHP-containing diet for 10 or 20 days. Dietary corn oil was used as the vehicle for DEHP in preparing the diet. Results: Significant hepatic hypertrophy was clearly observed in the DEHP- exposed groups, while no atrophy was seen in the thymus or spleen in any treatment groups. In the thymus and spleen, no variation in the proportions of both T cells expressing CD3, CD4 and CD8 was shown with cytometry analysis. The surface expression of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD28 on both T cells was also invariable in all analyzed stages of thymic differentiation and in the spleen. No effect of DEHP on mitogenesis was shown in the splenic T cells with an in vitro [ sub(3)H]- thymidine-incorporation technique. Conclusions: DEHP is probably not an immunosuppressor, particularly for T cells.