Biomaterial Database

Inhibition of interferon gamma production by benzene and benzene metabolites. 1988

S C Cheung, and D E Nerland, and G Sonnenfeld

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY 40292.

We exposed spleen cells from female Swiss/Webster mice to benzene and benzene metabolites to determine the effects of such exposure on interferon gamma induction by concanavalin A. Exposing the cells to benzene or phenol did not affect interferon gamma production, but exposing them to p-benzoquinone, catechol, or hydroquinone significantly inhibited interferon gamma production. Cell viability, as determined by trypan blue viability staining, was not influenced by the chemical treatment. When interferon gamma production was inhibited, the inhibition was dose dependent. The time of optimum production of interferon gamma after exposure to concanavalin A was not affected by treatment of the cells with p-benzoquinone. These data indicate the importance of dihydroxy and diketo metabolites as immunotoxic derivatives of benzene.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007371	Interferon-gamma	The major interferon produced by mitogenically or antigenically stimulated LYMPHOCYTES. It is structurally different from TYPE I INTERFERON and its major activity is immunoregulation. It has been implicated in the expression of CLASS II HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGENS in cells that do not normally produce them, leading to AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Interferon Type II,Interferon, Immune,gamma-Interferon,Interferon, gamma,Type II Interferon,Immune Interferon,Interferon, Type II
D010636	Phenols	Benzene derivatives that include one or more hydroxyl groups attached to the ring structure.
D011809	Quinones	Hydrocarbon rings which contain two ketone moieties in any position. They can be substituted in any position except at the ketone groups.
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001554	Benzene	Toxic, volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon byproduct of coal distillation. It is used as an industrial solvent in paints, varnishes, lacquer thinners, gasoline, etc. Benzene causes central nervous system damage acutely and bone marrow damage chronically and is carcinogenic. It was formerly used as parasiticide.	Benzol,Benzole,Cyclohexatriene
D016227	Benzoquinones	Benzene rings which contain two ketone moieties in any position. They can be substituted in any position except at the ketone groups.	1,2-Benzoquinones,1,4-Benzoquinones,Benzodiones,2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-Diones,o-Benzoquinones,p-Benzoquinones
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D019800	Phenol	An antiseptic and disinfectant aromatic alcohol.	Carbol,Carbolic Acid,Hydroxybenzene,Phenol, Sodium Salt,Phenolate Sodium,Sodium Phenolate,Phenolate, Sodium