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Biomedical subjects

B G Loganathan

Publications and source records attributed to B G Loganathan.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Butyltin exposure causes a rapid decrease in cyclic AMP levels in human lymphocytes.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes that are capable of killing tumor cells, virally infected cells, and antibody-coated cells. Butyltins (BTs) are used in a variety of consumer products and industrial applications. Tributyltin (TBT) is found in dairy products, meat, and fish. Dibutyltin (DBT) is found in plastic products, beverages stored in PVC pipes during manufacturing, and poultry products. BTs appear to increase the risk of cancer and viral infections in exposed individuals. This increased risk may be due in part to the inhibitory effect of these compounds on the cytotoxic function of NK cells. A 24-h exposure of NK cells to 200 nM TBT or 1.5 microM DBT decreased the cytotoxic function of NK cells by greater than 90%. Higher concentrations of TBT and DBT decreased the cytotoxic function of NK cells (by greater than 90%) after only a 1-h exposure. A 24-h exposure to either TBT or DBT decreased intracellular ATP levels by about 30%. However, as much as a 1-h exposure to either 300 nM TBT or 10 microM DBT caused no significant decrease in ATP levels. Thus, a decrease in ATP levels is a longer-term consequence of BT exposure. Intracellular levels of cAMP are decreased by as much as 80% within 5 min of exposure to either TBT or DBT. This rapid decline in cAMP levels in NK cells may be a consequence of BT exposure that is related to the rapid decrease in the cytotoxic function of NK cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Phenyltin inhibition of the cytotoxic function of human natural killer cells.

Phenyltin (PT) contamination has been reported in water, sediment, and fish. However, the role of PT in weakening human immune function mediated through natural killer (NK) lymphocytes has not been elucidated. In this study, we report the effects of in vitro exposure to triphenyltin (TPT), diphenyltin (DPT), and monophenyltin (MPT) on the function of human NK cells. Exposure to TPT (1 microM, for 1 h) inhibited the tumor killing capacity of NK cells by 85%. Exposure of NK cells to DPT for 1 h (5 microM) and 24h (1.5 microM) reduced tumor lysis by greater than 90%. A 24-h exposure of NK cells to 5 microM MPT reduced tumor lysis by greater than 80%. Assays assessing the ability of NK cells to bind to tumor cells showed that a 24-h pretreatment with TPT, DPT, or MPT reduced NK cell binding to tumor cells by greater than 50%. The toxic potential of the PTs followed the order TPT > DPT > MPT. In comparison with butyltins (BTs), in vitro effects of PTs revealed that these compounds are relatively less toxic to NK cells than BTs. The results of this study provide evidence that phenyltin compounds are immunotoxic to human NK cells under in vitro experimental conditions.

Cell Adhesion↗

Immunotoxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of butyltins on human natural killer cells in vitro.

The widespread environmental contamination, bio-accumulation, and toxic effects of butyltins (BTs) in wildlife is well documented, but the role of BTs in debilitating human immune function mediated through natural killer (NK) lymphocytes (a primary immune defense against tumor and virally infected cells) has not been described. In this study, we assessed the effects of in vitro exposure to a range of concentrations (encompassing environmentally relevant concentrations) of MBT, DBT, and TBT on human natural killer lymphocytes obtained from adult male and female donors. TBT inhibited the tumor-killing capacity of NK cells when the NK cells were pretreated in vitro at 200 nM for as little as 1 h. Inhibition of NK cytotoxic function ranged from 40 to greater than 90%. The toxic potential of butyltins followed the order of TBT > DBT > MBT. Conjugation assays revealed that after a 24-h exposure to TBT, there was about a 50% decrease in NK cell binding to tumor cells, indicating alteration of the NK cell receptors for tumor cells. Analysis of whole-blood samples for BTs revealed the presence of detectable concentrations of MBT, DBT, and TBT in all of the donors, indicating possible exposure of NK cells to BTs in the blood. The results of this study provide evidence that butyltin compounds significantly inhibit NK cell function and possible NK cell-mediated immunotoxic potential in humans.

Adult↗

Occurrence of butyltin residues in sediment and mussel tissues from the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, U.S.A.

Surface sediments and mussel samples were collected at six selected locations in the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, U.S.A. and analyzed for butyltin (BT) derivatives. In sediments, total BT concentrations ranged from 6.8 to 356 ng g-1 dry wt. A wide range of concentrations in sediments suggested the presence of localized area of contamination. In mussel tissues, total BT concentrations varied between 26-107 ng g-1 dry wt. BT levels were comparable to the levels reported in mussels from some coastal sites as well as a few freshwater ecosystems. Leaching of tributyltin-containing anti-fouling paints in the ocean-going ships is a source of tributyltin, and discharge of municipal sewage and industrial waste waters in to this watershed may account for the presence of the monobutyltin and dibutyltin derivatives detected in the samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the butyltin concentrations in sediment and mussel tissues from the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake.

Animals↗

Distribution of selected PCB congeners in the Babcock Street sewer district: a multimedia approach to identify PCB sources in combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharging to the Buffalo River, New York.

To evaluate sources of PCBs in combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Buffalo River, New York, combined sewage, sanitary flow, atmospheric wet and dry depositions, and street dust samples were collected from the Babcock Street sewer district and analyzed. Total PCB concentrations (sum of the PCB congeners quantitated) in particulate and dissolved phases of sanitary flow were 101-269 ng g-1 dry weight and <0.2 ng L-1, respectively. PCBs in the atmospheric dry and wet deposition samples were close to the method detection limit (a few pg/cm2 day-1 and <0.2 ng L-1, respectively). Average concentrations of total PCBs were noticeable in both dissolved (64 ng/l-1) and particulate (907 ng g-1 dry weight) phases in CSOs. Total PCBs in aggregates of street dust samples were between 53 and 1,700 ng g-1 dry weight, with the highest concentrations at sites nearest an industrial area that was previously remediated for PCB contamination. PCB congeners 153, 138, 101, 118, and 180 contributed >50% of the total PCB load in street dust samples. PCB congener composition in the particulate phase of CSOs reflects the congener pattern of the street dusts. In this context, it can be suggested that the local contaminated street dusts are one of the potential sources of PCBs in CSOs, which is a source of PCBs to the Buffalo River.

Animals↗