Chronic arsenic exposure is known to affect the immune system. We aimed to evaluate the association between arsenic exposure and immune cell profile in 15 years old adolescents (n=389) in rural Bangladesh, with chronic exposure to groundwater arsenic. Single blood and urine were collected. Urinary arsenic (U-As) concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Non-linear association was found between U-As (median, 24.9 µg/L) and immune cells with a cut-off at U-As 20 µg/L. U-As (<20 µg/L) were significantly associated with increases in CD8+T (21 %), naïve CD8+T (42 %) and early B cells (40 %), and classical monocytes (55 %), but reduction in CD3+T cells (37%) and intermediate-monocytes (56 %). U-As (>20 µg/L) were associated with a 3 % reduction in memory B cells. Arsenic exposure was associated with altered immune cell profile in adolescents likely rendering them vulnerable to adverse health effects in later life.

中文翻译：

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MINIMat 青少年慢性砷暴露与细胞免疫特征的关联：孟加拉国的一个出生队列


众所周知，长期接触砷会影响免疫系统。我们旨在评估孟加拉国农村 15 岁青少年 （n=389） 与长期暴露于地下水砷的 15 岁青少年 （n=389） 的砷暴露与免疫细胞谱之间的关联。收集单血和尿液。使用原子吸收光谱法测量尿砷 （U-As） 浓度。流式细胞术分析外周血单核细胞 （PBMC）。U-As（中位数，24.9 μg/L）和免疫细胞之间存在非线性关联，临界值为 U-As 20 μg/L。U-As（<20 μg/L）与 CD8+T （21%） 、初始 CD8+T （42%） 和早期 B 细胞 （40%） 和经典单核细胞 （55%） 的增加显著相关，但 CD3+T 细胞 （37%） 和中间单核细胞 （56%） 减少。U-As （>20 μg/L） 与记忆 B 细胞减少 3 % 相关。砷暴露与青少年免疫细胞谱的改变有关，这可能使他们在以后的生活中容易受到不良健康影响。