The effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure on hepatic
pyruvate carboxylase (PC) gene expression were investigated in C57BL/6J Ah[superscipt b/b male
mice. A dose-dependent reduction of PC levels and activity occurred in animals given a
single intraperitoneal dose of TCDD in a corn oil carrier. The dose ranged from 1 to...
Exposure to TCDD suppresses the generation of immune responses through unknown mechanisms. Interestingly, TCDD enhances inflammatory responses to various stimuli. The goal of the studies presented in this thesis was to examine the role of hyperinflammation in TCDD-induced immunotoxicity. Previously we observed an increase in Mac-1⁺ cells in the spleen...
T cell-dependent immune responses are highly sensitive to suppression by
exposure to the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(TCDD), yet direct effects of TCDD on T cells have been difficult to demonstrate.
Because the activation of naive T cells is initiated by dendritic cells (DC), the studies
presented in this dissertation were...