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IMMUNOLOGIC EFFECTS OF NICKEL: 2. SUPPRESSION OF NATURAL KILLER CELL ACTIVITY
Citation:
Smialowicz, R., R.R. Rogers, M. Riddle, R. Garner, AND D. Rowe. IMMUNOLOGIC EFFECTS OF NICKEL: 2. SUPPRESSION OF NATURAL KILLER CELL ACTIVITY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-85/011 (NTIS PB85198281).
Description:
A single intramuscular injection of nickel chloride (18.3 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in murine splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity. This reduction in NK activity was not associated with a significant reduction in spleen cellularity nor in the production of suppressor cells. In a 4-hr 51Cr release assay, NK cell activity was suppressed in both CBA/J and C57BL/6J mice. Administration of the nickel dose (i.e., 18.3 mg/kg total) over a two week period also caused a significant reduction in NK cell activity. In an in vivo NK assay the clearance of 125I-iododeoxyuridine labeled YAC-1 tumor cells from the lungs of nickel-treated mice was significantly reduced compared with saline injected controls. Another in vivo correlate of nickel-induced NK suppression was observed in mice injected with the B16-F10 melanoma.