No immunotoxic effect on T cells with di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in male C57BL/6 mice

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To clarify whether di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has immunotoxic effects on both the expression of surface molecules (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD28) on T cells of the thymus and spleen in male C57BL/6 mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animals were orally administered a 0.1% or 0.2% DEHP-containing diet for 10 or 20 days. Dietary corn oil was used as the vehicle for DEHP in preparing the diet.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant hepatic hypertrophy was clearly observed in the DEHP-exposed groups, while no atrophy was seen in the thymus or spleen in any treatment groups. In the thymus and spleen, no variation in the proportions of both T cells expressing CD3, CD4 and CD8 was shown with cytometry analysis. The surface expression of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD28 on both T cells was also invariable in all analyzed stages of thymic differentiation and in the spleen. No effect of DEHP on mitogenesis was shown in the splenic T cells with anin vitro [(3)H]-thymidine-incorporation technique.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DEHP is probably not an immunosuppressor, particularly for T cells.</p>