Prenatal blood metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and antigen- or mitogen-stimulated cord blood lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion

Evidence suggests that prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals, two classes of chemicals found ubiquitously in human populations, influence immune system development and response. We evaluated whether first trimester blood PFAS and metals were associated with antigen- or mitogen-stimulated cord blood lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion. We measured six PFAS, as well as six nonessential and four essential metals, in first trimester blood from participants in the longitudinal pre-birth Project Viva cohort, recruited between 1999 and 2000 in eastern Massachusetts. We measured antigen- or mitogen-stimulated cord blood mononuclear cell proliferation responses (n = 269–314) and cytokine secretion (n = 217–302). We used covariate-adjusted least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) for variable selection and multivariable regression to estimate associations with the immune markers. Each ng/mL of MeFOSAA was associated with a 3.6% (1.4, 5.8) higher lymphocyte proliferation response after stimulation with egg antigen, as well as 0.8 (0.7, 1.0) reduced odds of having IFN-γ detected in response to dust mite. Each ng/g increment of cesium was associated with 27.8% (−45.1, −4.9) lower IL-10 levels in response to dust mite. Each ng/g increment of mercury was associated with 12.0% (1.3, 23.8) higher IL-13 levels in response to mitogen PHA. Each ng/g increment of selenium and zinc was associated with 0.2% (0.01, 0.4) and 0.01% (0.002, 0.02) higher TNF-α in response to mitogen PHA, respectively. Prenatal metals and PFAS influence cord blood lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion in ways that may increase risk for atopic disease in childhood. •Prenatal selenium and zinc associated with higher cord blood TNF-α in response to PHA.•Cesium is associated with lower IL-10 levels in response to dust mite.•Mercury is associated with higher IL-13 levels in response to PHA.•MeFOSAA is associated with higher lymphocyte proliferation after egg allergen stimulation.•Immune markers may be disease pathway biomarkers for risk of childhood atopic disease.