The cytotoxic effects of the organophosphates chlorpyrifos and diazinon differ from their immunomodulating effects

Some organophosphate insecticides have immunomodulating capacities, but it is unknown whether different compounds within this class affect the immune system to the same extent. In this in vitro study, human immortalized T-lymphocytes or bronchial epithelial cells were treated with diazinon or chlorpyrifos in the absence or presence of cellular stress factors, thereby mimicking a stimulated immune system. Cytotoxicity was determined and cytokine release or cytokine-promoter studies were performed to study immunomodulatory effects of these chemicals, whereby the same concentrations of chlorpyrifos and diazinon were used. Results showed that chlorpyrifos was cytotoxic at concentrations >= 250 mu M, whereas diazinon was not toxic at concentrations up to 1 mM. The immunomodulatory effects of these two compounds were similar for most cytokine promoters tested and induction of cellular stress enhanced these effects. The results were compared to data obtained with blood mononuclear cells, which confirmed the results of stably transfected cell lines, but refer to a higher sensitivity of primary cells. In conclusion, these two pesticides act in a different manner on cell viability and on some immune parameters, but cell viability was not linked to immunomodulation. The results also imply that healthy and diseased individuals are differentially affected by these pollutants.