Latent Immunological Effects of Gestational Exposure to Heptachlor Epoxide
Year: 2010
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: O-31B4-4 Background/Aims: The commercial milk supply on the Hawaiian island of Oahu was contaminated with heptachlor epoxide (HE) during a 15 month period (1981–1982), resulting in gestational exposure to offspring of women who drank cows' milk during that period. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the gestational exposure to heptachlor epoxide resulted in latent effects on immunological function in the exposed population as young adults. Methods: We recruited 399 Oahu-born and 57 comparison young adults who were not born on Oahu, matched by age and ethnicity, who would have been in utero at the time of the earlier milk contamination episode. We interviewed the parents about the pregnancy, including asking the mother how much cows milk she consumed while she was pregnant with the study subject. We had conducted an earlier biological marker study in which we found that reported cows milk consumption was significantly associated with measured heptachlor epoxide in serum and breast milk, so we used reported cows milk consumption as a surrogate indicator of exposure in this study. Indicators of immune function include skin tests for standard recall antigens; antibody titer response to immunization with tetanus and multivalent pneumococcal vaccine; Th1 and Th2 type CD4+ cell subsets in peripheral blood; and susceptibility of peripheral blood T cells to activation-induced cell death using in vitro analysis of Fas (CD95) and its ligand (CD95L) expression. Results: Among Oahu-born participants, reported mothers' milk consumption during pregnancy was inversely associated with maximum antibody titer and antibody titer response to immunization with pneumococcal vaccine. No other significant differences in immunological function were observed. Conclusion: Gestational exposure to heptachlor epoxide may be associated with decreased antibody response to pneumococcal vaccine, a T cell independent carbohydrate antigen, through at least 25 years of age.
Source: Epidemiology
Institution: University of California, Irvine
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2324518337