Hydroquinone and catechol reduce the frequency of progenitor B lymphocytes in mouse spleen and bone marrow.

Hydroquinone and catechol are two metabolites of benzene that are potential inducers of hematotoxicity. We investigated the in vivo toxicity of these metabolites toward the development of polyclonal, plaque-forming cells (PC-PFC) from progenitor B lymphocytes. Dextran sulfate (DxS), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or the two mitogens combined (DxS + LPS) were used to induce proliferation and maturation of these progenitors to PC-PFC. Groups of 4 C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 2 daily doses, either intravenously or intraperitoneally, of hydroquinone (100 mg/kg) or catechol (75 mg/kg) for 3 consecutive days. Spleen and marrow cells were harvested for culture 1 day later. The results demonstrated that both metabolites were cytotoxic to spleen cells. Hydroquinone (100 mg/kg) also reduced marrow cellularity, whereas catechol (75 mg/kg) did not significantly affect marrow cellularity. Each compound reduced the frequency of PC-PFC developed from the spleens and marrows of treated mice, but only catechol selectively inhibited the maturation of LPS-activated marrow progenitors into end-stage PC-PFC. These experiments demonstrate the immunotoxic potential of hydroquinone and catechol in vivo through the reduction of progenitor B lymphocytes and suggest that inhibition of precursor cell maturation may play a significant role in the hematotoxicity observed after chronic exposure to benzene.