Effect of Lead on Immunoregulatory Cytokines in Occupationally Exposed Workers

Occupational and environmental exposure to metals can adversely affect human health. Lead is a common and abundant toxic heavy metal present in the inert environment and in all biological system. Exposure to lead have several detrimental effects on nervous, cardiovascular, skeletal, renal and hemopoietic system of body. However, little is known about the influence of lead on immune system in human population. The aim of this study was to examine blood lead levels in occupationally exposed individual and to correlate with serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-37 levels. The study comprises of 50 male individuals (aged 32-63 years) working in factories (handicraft, welding) with occupational exposure for at least 2 years and 30 apparently healthy subjects with no occupational exposure were recruited in the study. A written consent was taken from each subject in the study. Blood lead level (BLL) served as biomarker for lead exposure and was determined using Dual Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (ICE 3500 Thermofisher). Serum cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-37, IL-4) were determined using commercially available ELISA kits. A statistically significant higher blood lead levels were observed in the exposed group when compared to the non-exposed group (p