Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of methanol intoxication on spcific immune functions of albino rats

  • Published:
Cell Biology and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Our previous studies revealed that methanol intoxication significantly altered the non-specific immune functions in albino rats. The present investigation focuses on the effect of methanol on certain specific immune functions of cell mediated immunity such as footpad thickness, leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMI) and antibody levels. In addition, serum interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ), and splenic lymphocyte subsets were measured after an immune challenge. The specific immune function tests were carried out in three different groups of albino rats, which include control, 15 and 30 days methanol intoxication. Our study reports that animal body weight, organ weight ratio, lymphoid cell counts, footpad thickness, antibody titer, IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, Pan T cell, CD4, macrophages, MHC class II molecule expression, and B cell counts were significantly decreased compared to control animals nevertheless, LMI, IL-4, and DNA single strand breakage were increased significantly. Plasma corticosterone level was significantly increased in the 15 days group whereas the 30 days methanol intoxication group showed considerable decrease in corticosterone level compared with control animals. Therefore, our investigation concluded that repeated exposure of methanol profoundly suppressed the cell mediated and humoral immune functions in albino rats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson CA, Rubinstein D, Filley CM, Stears JC. MR enhancing brain lesions in methanol intoxication. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1997;1:834–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker CE. Methanol poisoning. J Emerg Med 1983;1:51–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Britton KT, Segal DS, Kuczenski R, Havger R. Dissociation between invivo hippocampal NE response and behavioral neuroendocrine responses to noise stress in rats. Brain Res. 1992;574:125–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butchko HH, Kotsonis FN. Acceptable daily intake vs actual intake: The aspartame example. J Am Coll Nutrition. 1991;10:258–662.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra RK. Numerical and functional deficiency in T-helper cells in protein energy malnutrition. Clin Exp Immunol. 1983;51:126–32.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cher DJ, Mosmann TR. Two types of murine helper T cell clone. II. Delayed-type hypersensitivity is mediated by TH1 clones. J Immunol. 1987;138:3688–94.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choucroun P, Gillet D, Dorange G, Sawicki B, Dewitte JD. Comet assay and early apoptosis. Mutat Res. 2001;478:89–96

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CONCAWE. 1995. Alternative fuels in the automotive market. Brussels, CONCAWE, 67 pp (Report No. 2/95, prepared for the Cancawe Automotive Emission Management Group by its Technical Coordinator, R.C. Hutcheson.

  • Conti P, Dempsey RA. Interleukin-4 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist down-regulate interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) generation in macrophages. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 1990;2:1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosgrove D, Gray D, Dierich A. Mice lacking MHC class II molecules. Cell. 1991;66:1051–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cross RJ, Brooks WH, Roszman TL, Markesbery WR. Hypothalamic immune interactions. J Neurol Sci. 1982;53:557–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davoli E. Serum Methanol Concentrations in Rats and in Men after a single dose of aspartame. Food Chem Toxicol. 1986;24:187–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fallon J, Eddy J, Wiener L, Pizzo PA. Human immunodeficiency virus infection in children. J.Pediatr. 1989;144:1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fearon DT, Locksley RM. Instructive role of innate immunity in the acquired immune response. Science. 1996;272:50–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman FD, Holmes J, Katona IM, Urban JF, Beckmann JP, Park LS, Schooley KA, CoVman RL, Mosmann TR, Paul WE. Lymphokine control of in vivo immunoglobulin isotype selection. Ann Re. Immunol. 1990;8:303–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Florent M, Godard T, Ballet JJ, Sola B. Detection by the comet assay of apoptosis induced by lymphoid cell lines after growth factor deprivation. Cell Biol Toxicol. 1999;15:185–92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frenkel C, Peters JS, Tieman DM, Tiznado ME, Handa A. Pectin methylesterase regulates methanol and ethanol accumulation in ripening tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit. J Biol Chem. 1998;273:4293–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabhe SY, Tatke PA, Khan TA. Evaluation of the immunomodulatory activity of the methanol extract of Ficus benghalensis roots in rats. Indian J Pharmacol. 2006;38:271–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Germain RN. MHC-dependent antigen processing and peptide presentation: providing ligands for T lymphocyte activation. Cell. 1994;76:287–299.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glimcher LH, Kara CJ. Sequences and factors: a guide to MHC class-II transcription. Annu Rev Immunol. 1992;10:13–49.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hart PH, Vitti GF, Burgess DR, Whitty GA, Piccoli DS, Hamilton JA. Potential antiinflammatory effects of interleukin 4: suppression of human monocyte tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1, and prostaglandin E2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1989;86(10):3803–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan JO, Curtiss R. Virulent Salmonella typhimurium-induced lymphocyte depletion and immunosuppression in chickens. Infect Immun. 1994;62:2027–36.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeganathan PS, Namasivayam A. Brain biogenic amine levels of methanol administration: possible mechanism of action on central monoaminergic neurons on discrete areas of brain Wistar rat. Ind. J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999;33:151–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeganathan PS, Namasivayam A. Methanol induced biogenic amine changes in discrete areas of rat brain: role of simultaneous ethanol administration. Ind J Physiol Pharmacol. 1998;32:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeya Parthasarathy N, Sri Kumar R, Sheela Devi R. Effect of methanol intoxication on rat neutrophil functions. J Immunotoxicol. 2005;2:115–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johlin FC, Fortman CS, Nghiem DD, Tephly TR. Studies on the role of folic acid and folate-dependent enzymes in human methanol poisoning. Mol Pharmacol. 1987;31:557–61.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King DP, Jones PP. Induction of Ia and H-2 antigens on a macrophage cell line by immune interferon. J Immunol 1983;131:315–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuteifan K, Oesterle H, Tajahmady T, Gutbub AM, Laplatte G. Necrosis and haemorrhage of the putamen in methanol poisoning shown on MRI. Neuroradiology. 1998;40:158–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JD, Rhoades K, Economou JS. Interleukin-4 inhibits the expression of tumour necrosis factors alpha and beta, interleukins-1 beta and -6 and interferon-gamma. Immunol Cell Biol. 1995;73:57–61.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JJ, Daya MR, Carrasquillo O, Kales SN. Prognostic factors on patients with methanol poisoning. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1998;36:175–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe SW, Lin AW. Apoptosis in cancer, Carcinogenesis. 2000;21:485–95.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mach B, Steimle V, Martinez-Soria E, Reith W. Regulation of MHC class II genes: lessons from a disease. Annu Rev Immunol. 1996;14:301–331.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maejima K, Suzuki T, Numata H, Maekawa A, Nagase S, Ishinishi N. Recovery from changes in blood, nasal cavity and/or lungs of rats caused by exposure to methanol-fueled engine exhaust. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1993;39:323–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mattingly D. A simple fluorimetric method for the estimation of free 11-hydroxycorticoids in human plasma. J Clin Pathol. 1962;15:374.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMartin KE, Makar AB. Methanol poisoning, III. Ocular toxicity. Arch Ophthalmol 1977;95:1851–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mosmann TR, Coffman RL. TH1 and TH2 cells, different patterns of lymphokines secretion lead to different functional properties. Ann Rev Immunolo. 1989;7:145–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mustaffa AS. 1992. In vitro correlates of cell-mediated immunity. In: Talwar, G.P., Gupta, S.K. (Eds.), A Handbook of Practical and Clinical Immunology, vol. 1, second ed. CSB Publishers and Distributors, pp. 270–281.

  • Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Nakata M, Nishizaki Y, Noda K, Okano Y, Oyama Y. Formaldehyde-induced shrinkage of rat thymocyte. J Pharmacol Sci. 2003;91:83–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otten LA, Steimle V, Bontron S, Mach B. Quantitative control of MHC expression by the transactivator CIITA. Eur J Immunol. 1998;28:473–478.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parthasarathy NJ, Sri Kumar R, Manikandan S, Sheela Devi R. Methanol induced oxidative stress in rat lymphoid organs. J Occup Health. 2006;48:20–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poli G. 1993. Liver damage due to free radicals. Brit Med Bull. 2001;49:604–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puri A, Saxena R, Saxena RP, Saxena KC, Srivastava Tandon JS. Immuno stimulant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994;42:31 –37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ranney RE, Oppermann JA. A review of the metabolism of the aspartyl moiety of aspartame in experimental animals and man. J Environ Pathol Toxicol 1979;2:979–85.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Röe O. Species differences in methanol poisoning, CRC Crit Rev Toxicol. 1982;10: 275–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roldan J, Frauca C, Duenas A. Alcohol intoxication, Anales Del Sistema Sanitario De Navarra. 2003;26:129–39.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seder RA, Paul WE. Acquisition of lymphokine-producing phenotype by CD4+ T cells. Annu Rev Immunol. 1994;12:635–73.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh NP, McCoy MT, Tice RR, Schneider EL. A simple technique for quantitation of low levels of DNA damage in individual cells. Exp Cell Res. 1988;75:184–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siragusa RJ, Cerda JJ Baig MM, Burgin CW, Robbins FL. Methanol production from the degradation of pectin by human colonic bacteria. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988;848–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skrzydlewska E, Szynaka B. Ultrastructural evaluation of lysosomes and biochemical changes in cathepsin D distribution in hepatocytes in methanol intoxication, Roczniki Akademii Medycznej W Bialymstoku. 1997;42:47–55.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stegink LD., 1984. “Aspartame Metabolism in Humans: Acute Dosing Studies” IN “Aspartame: Physiology and Biochemistry,” (ed Stegink, L., Filer L., Marcel Dekker, Inc). pp. 143. N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stegink LD, Brummel MC, McMartin KE, Blood methanol concentrations in normal adult subjects administered abuse doses of aspartame. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1981;7:281–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens TL, Bossie A, Sanders VM, Fernandez-Botran R, CoVman RL, Mosmann TR, Vitetta ES. Regulation of antibody isotype secretion by subsets of antigen-speciWc helper T cells. Nature. 1988;334:255–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Surch YJ, Hurch YJ, Kang JY, Lee SG. Reservertrol, an antioxidant present in red wine, induces apoptosis on human leukemia (HL-60) cells. Cancer Lett 1999;140:1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swain SL. Lymphokines and the immune response: the central role of interleukin-2. Curr Opin Immunol 1991;3:304–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tephly TR. Mini review-the toxicity of methanol. Life Sci. 1991;48:1031–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tewari S, Seshadri M, Poduval TB. Migration inhibition of normal rat thymocytes as an in vitro method of detecting cell mediated immunity in rat and mouse. J Immunol Methods. 1982;51:231–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zabrodskii PF, Germanchuk VG. Effect of ethanol on methanol immunotoxicity. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2001;64:40–2.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology laboratory, Department of Physiology, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India

    N. Jeya Parthasarathy, R. Srikumar, S. Manikandan, G. Sathya Narayanan & R. Sheela Devi (Lecturer and Head)

  2. Department of Physiology, Dr. ALM. PG. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, India

    R. Sheela Devi (Lecturer and Head)

Authors
  1. N. Jeya Parthasarathy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Srikumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Manikandan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Sathya Narayanan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Sheela Devi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Sheela Devi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Parthasarathy, N.J., Srikumar, R., Manikandan, S. et al. Effect of methanol intoxication on spcific immune functions of albino rats. Cell Biol Toxicol 23, 177–187 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-006-0151-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-006-0151-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation