The emerging pollutants polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH'S) bisphenol a (BPA), and phthalates impair immune system function: Effects on human macrophages.

Human activity has led to the increment of diverse pollutants. Plastics have great practical value since they are present in everyday products. However, not only plastics have gained importance, but their plasticizers such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other chemicals such as the polyaromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) have described to impact in human and animal health because of its chronic exposure and that they are endocrine disruptors (EDs). Since immune cells express hormone receptors and AhR, they are susceptible to these EDs. We hypothesized that these compounds may alter their maturation and function. We focus on macrophages since they link the innate and adaptive immune response, playing different roles in disease. We cultured human monocytes in the presence of phthalates, bisphenol A or PAH's and analyze both maturation and function such as phagocytosis, antigen processing and antigen presentation. Our results show that these compounds affect differentially macrophage function, being the phtalates DEHP and DBP the ones that have the greatest impact. Both inhibit human macrophage maturation, observed by the lack of expression of MHC-II, CD80/86, which in consequence, impair antigen presentation and phagocytosis. BPA did not alter maturation but changed antigen processing activity while PAHs alter both antigen processing and presentation. These results may have great implications on human health and disease, since emergent pollutants affect normal macrophage function.