Ustarroz-Cano Martha, Garcia-Pelaez Isabel, Cervantes-Yepez Silvana, Lopez-Valdez Nelly, Fortoul Teresa I
a Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology , School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM ), Mexico City , Mexico.
J Immunotoxicol. 2017 Dec;14(1):9-14. doi: 10.1080/1547691X.2016.1250848. Epub 2017 Jan 16.
The thymus is a vital immune system organ wherein selection of T-lymphocytes occurs in a process regulated by dendritic and epithelial thymic cells. Previously, we have reported that in a mouse model of vanadium inhalation, a decrease in CD11c dendritic cells was observed. In the present study, we report on a thymic cortex-medulla distribution distortion in these hosts due to apparent effects of the inhaled vanadium on cytokeratin-5 (K5) epithelial cells in the same mouse model - after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of exposure - by immunohistochemistry. These cells - together with dendritic cells - eliminate autoreactive T-cell clones and regulate the production of regulatory T-cells in situ. Because both cell types are involved in the negative selection of autoreactive clones, a potential for an increase in development of autoimmune conditions could be a possible consequence among individuals who might be exposed often to vanadium in air pollution, including dwellers of highly polluted cities with elevated levels of particulate matter onto which vanadium is often adsorbed.
胸腺是一个至关重要的免疫系统器官，T淋巴细胞的选择在由树突状细胞和胸腺上皮细胞调节的过程中发生。此前，我们报道过在钒吸入小鼠模型中，观察到CD11c树突状细胞减少。在本研究中，我们通过免疫组织化学报告了在同一小鼠模型中，吸入的钒对细胞角蛋白-5（K5）上皮细胞有明显影响，在暴露1、2和4周后，这些宿主的胸腺皮质-髓质分布出现扭曲。这些细胞与树突状细胞一起消除自身反应性T细胞克隆，并在原位调节调节性T细胞的产生。由于这两种细胞类型都参与自身反应性克隆的阴性选择，对于那些可能经常暴露于空气污染中的钒的个体，包括居住在颗粒物水平升高且钒常吸附其上的高度污染城市的居民，自身免疫性疾病发展增加的可能性可能是一个潜在后果。
