Immune Suppression By The Herbicide Atrazine Involves Inhibition Of CD4+ T Cells And Expansion Of Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells

Atrazine (ATR) is a selective pre- and post-emergence herbicide widely used for agricultural purposes as well as weed control in non-crop areas. Although banned from the European Union in 2006 due to potential environmental and health risks, this common environmental toxicant is heavily used in the United States. ATR is the most common groundwater contaminant in the U.S. and millions of Americans are exposed to it daily. ATR has been associated with immune dysfunction as well as other human health risks. The mechanism by which ATR suppresses the immune system has not been defined. It is known that ATR is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which causes intracellular accumulation of cAMP. Furthermore, ATR is classified as an endocrine disrupting compound that elevates estrogen levels by increasing aromatase activity of gonadal tissues. Both cAMP and estrogen have been implicated in altering immune function. We show that ATR causes the inhibition CD4+ T cell activation, proliferation, and effector cytokine production and that these suppressive effects can be, in part, attributed to an increase in regulatory T cells associated with ATR treatment. An increase in regulatory T cells has never been described in association with ATR exposure and could help to explain ATR-mediated immune dysfunction.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Montana

Year

2011

Author dc:creator

• Thueson, Lindsay Elizabeth

• Atrazine
• cAMP
• Foxp3
• phosphodiesterase
• regulatory T cells

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/545

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.umt.edu:etd-1564