The effect of lead on immune and viral interferon production.

Female BDF1 mice were exposed to lead acetate in the drinking water at concentrations ranging form 0 to 1000 micrograms/mL lead for three weeks. The mice tolerated these levels of lead exposure without exhibiting signs of clinical toxicity. Weight gains were not affected by lead exposure. The production of viral interferon induced by the oral administration of tilorone was not altered by lead exposure. The T-lymphocyte mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and staphylococcal enterotoxin A induced immune interferon to varying degrees, with concanavalin A and staphylococcal enterotoxin A exhibiting the most potent induction capabilities. The production of immune interferon induced by T-lymphocyte mitogens was not suppressed by lead exposure.