Phenotype and functional alterations of human NK cells by organophophate pesticides

FRIEDRICH, ADRIÁN D.; SIERRA, JESSICA MARIEL; REGGE, MARÍA VICTORIA; SANTILLI, MARÍA CECILIA; TROTTA, ALDANA; SECCHIARI, FLORENCIA; DOMAICA, CAROLINA INÉS; FUERTES, MERCEDES BEATRIZ; ZWIRNER, NORBERTO WALTER

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 69ª Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología; 2021

Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) and Glyphosate (GLY) are organophosphate pesticides widely used in agriculture. Several evidences suggest that CPF- and GLY-based pesticides are genotoxic and their use has been linked to the increased frequency of malignancies observed in highly fumigated rural areas. However, their effect on the immune system, including cells involved in immunosurveillance of tumor cells, has been poorly explored. Here, we investigated the effects of two commercial formulations containing CPF (Clorpi48) and GLY (Roundup Plus) as well as their isolated active principles on the phenotype and function of human NK cells. First, we identified sub-apoptotic doses of these substances by flow cytometry performing a dose-response curve with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC). Next, using such sub-apoptotic doses, we analyzed the phenotype of pesticide-treated NK cells. We observed a pesticide dose-dependent reduction in the expression of CD16 and CD62L on NK cells after a 24 h of culture with CPF, GLY, Roundup and Clorpi48. Moreover, a diminished frequency of IFN--producing NK cells was observed upon exposure of cytokine-stimulated NK cells to 5 mM GLY, 0.05 mM Roundup, 0.01 mM Clorpi48 but not to 0.02 mM CPF (p