Evaluation of immunotoxicity of sodium metavanadate following drinking water exposure in female B6C3F1/N mice in a 28‐day study

Abstract

AbstractSodium metavanadate (NaVO3) is a pentavalent vanadium compound used in the metal industry and dietary supplements; human exposure occurs through inhalation of fumes and dust and ingestion of NaVO3‐containing products. The objective of this study was to assess the potential immunotoxicity of NaVO3. Female B6C3F1/N mice were exposed to 0–500 ppm NaVO3in drinking water for 28 days and evaluated for effects on immune cell populations and innate, cellular‐mediated, and humoral‐mediated immunity. There was a decreasing trend in body weight (BW) and BW gain in NaVO3exposed mice, with a decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in BW gain at ≥250 ppm, relative to control. Conversely, increasing trends in spleen weights and an increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the spleen:BW ratio at ≥250 ppm NaVO3were observed. NaVO3exposure altered antibody production against sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Antibody forming cells (AFC)/106spleen cells exhibited a decreasing trend, with a decrease (p ≤ 0.05) at 500 ppm NaVO3, concurrent with an increase in percent B cells. NaVO3had no effect on the serum anti‐SRBC IgM antibody titers or anti‐keyhole limpet hemocyanin antibody production. Exposure to NaVO3decreased the percentage of natural killer cells at all dose levels (p ≤ 0.05), with no effect on the lytic activity. NaVO3altered T‐cell populations at 500 ppm but had no effect on T‐cell proliferative responses or the lytic activity of cytotoxic T cells. Collectively, these data indicate that NaVO3exposure can adversely affect the immune system by inducing alterations in humoral‐mediated immunity, specifically the AFC response, with no effect on cell‐mediated or innate immunity.