Plasma polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations and immune function in postmenopausal women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure has been associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in several studies, and the immune system is a potential mediator.

Objectives

We analyzed associations of plasma PCBs with immune function measures. We hypothesized that higher plasma PCB concentrations are associated with lower immune function cross-sectionally, and that increases in PCB concentrations over a one year period are associated with decreases in immune function.

Methods

Plasma PCB concentrations and immune function [natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and PHA-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation (PHA-TLP)] were measured at baseline and one year in 109 postmenopausal overweight women participating in an exercise intervention study in the Seattle, Washington (US

SUBMITTER: Spector JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4019676 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature