Investigations into the Immunotoxicity and Allergic Potential Induced by Topical Application of N-Butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) in a Murine Model.

Abstract

N-Butylbenzene sulfonamide (NBBS) is a commonly used plasticizer found in numerous products. Due to its extensive use, lack of adequate toxicological data, and suspicion of toxicity based on the presence of structural alerts, it was nominated to the National Toxicology Program for comprehensive toxicological testing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for hypersensitivity and immune suppression following dermal exposure to NBBS using a murine model. NBBS tested negative in a combined irritancy/local lymph node assay (LLNA), classifying it as nonirritating and nonsensitizing. To estimate the immunosuppressive potential of NBBS, assays that assessed immunotoxicity were performed, including the immumnoglobulin (Ig) M response to T-cell-dependent antigen sheep red blood cells (SRBC), using the plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay and immune cell phenotyping. After a 28-d treatment with NBBS, mice exposed to the lowest concentration (25% NBBS) showed a significant increase in IgM-producing B cells in the spleen. No marked changes were identified in immune cell markers in the lymph node. In contrast to body weight, a significant elevation in kidney and liver weight was observed following dermal exposure to all concentrations of NBBS. These results demonstrate that dermal exposure to NBBS, other than liver and kidney toxicity, did not apparently induce immunotoxicity in a murine model.

• Authors: Antonella Marrocco, B Jean Meade, Carrie M Long, Ewa Lukomska, Nikki B Marshall, Stacey E Anderson
• Journal: Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A (J Toxicol Environ Health A) Vol. 78 Issue 17 Pg. 1122-32 ( 2015) ISSN: 1528-7394 [Print] England
• PMID: 26291892 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Plasticizers
• Sulfonamides
• N-butylbenzenesulfonamide

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Animals
• Female
• Immunoglobulin G (immunology)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (pharmacology)
• Lymph Nodes (immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Plasticizers (toxicity)
• Sheep
• Spleen (drug effects, immunology)
• Sulfonamides (toxicity)
• T-Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology)
• Toxicity Tests