Age-related effects of sodium arsenite on splenocyte proliferation and Th1/Th2 cytokine production

Aging is associated with immune dysfunction and conditions such as inflamm-aging and immunosuppression. Arsenic, an environmental contaminant distributed worldwide, affects the immune system. This study tested the hypothesis that arsenic has distinct effects on T cell proliferation and the production of cytokines by activated T cells. Murine splenocytes from young (2 months) and aged (24–26 months) C57BL/6 mice were exposed to arsenite (As3+), the most toxic form of inorganic arsenic, and stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) or anti-CD3 antibody. T cell proliferation decreased significantly in response to Con A and anti-CD3 at subtoxic doses of arsenite in splenocytes from both young and aged mice. Arsenite, added concurrently with Con A or anti-CD3, significantly inhibited the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) by splenocytes from young mice and significantly reduced the production of IL-10 by splenocytes from aged mice. In contrast, the production of IL-2 and IL-4 by splenocytes from aged mice was only slightly affected by arsenite. The results show that arsenic exposure reduces the immune response in splenocytes. Moreover, this effect may be influenced by aging.