Lack of evidence for contact sensitization by Pfiesteria extract.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Patterson, Rachel M. Noga, Edward Germolec, Dori
Copyright Year	2007
Abstract	BackgroundMembers of the estuarine dinoflagellate genus Pfiesteria are reported to have been responsible for massive fish kills in the southeastern United States. Some reports suggest that exposure to waters having Pfiesteria blooms or occupation-related exposure might result in Pfiesteria-induced dermal irritation and inflammation. Although the toxin has not been isolated and purified, the original data suggested both hydrophilic and hydrophobic toxic components. Some investigators propose that dermonecrotic properties are associated with a hydrophobic fraction.ObjectivesA bioactive C18-bound putative toxin (CPE) extracted from Pfiesteria-laden aquarium water during active fish-killing conditions was examined in the present study to evaluate its potential to produce inflammation and dermal sensitization and to determine whether the inflammation and dermatitis reported in early human exposure studies were allergic or irritant in nature.ResultsThis fraction was cytotoxic to mouse Neuro-2A cells and primary human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Balb/C mice exposed to 50–200% CPE by skin painting exhibited a 6–10% increase in ear swelling relative to vehicle-treated mice in a primary irritancy assay. There was no increase in lymph node cell proliferation as measured using the local lymph node assay. Exposure to CPE in culture up-regulated interleukin-8 in NHEK, whereas granulocyte macrophage–colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor α were only minimally altered.ConclusionsThis study suggests that CPE is cytotoxic to keratinocytes in culture at high concentrations and that it induces mild, localized irritation but not dermal sensitization.
ISSN	00916765
Journal	Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume Number	115
PubMed Central reference number	PMC1913569
Issue Number	7
PubMed reference number	17637917
e-ISSN	15529924
DOI	10.1289/ehp.9559
Language	English
Publisher	National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Publisher Date	2007-07-01
Access Restriction	Open
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Subject Keyword	allergic contact dermatitis contact irritant dermatitis cytokines delayed-type hypersensitivity keratinocytes Pfiesteria sensitization
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health