Effects of prenatal exposure to arsenic on T cell development in children

Health consequences of exposure to arsenic, a major environmental pollutant, is diverse ranging from metabolic to respiratory diseases. Exposure to arsenic during pregnancy is the most critical window, since the rapidly developing fetus is most vulnerable to the toxic insult. Experimental and epidemiological studies indicate that arsenic disrupts immunological balance and impairs immune function. However, knowledge on impact of prenatal arsenic exposure on cellular immunity in humans is limited. Findings from longitudinal/birth-cohort studies indicate that impairing T cell-mediated immunity may be one pathway through which prenatal arsenic exposure contributes to long-term adverse health effects. This review summarizes the current research on the effects of in utero arsenic exposure on T cell development, their functional competence and discusses their importance in understanding the mechanisms of immunotoxicity, the challenges and future directions.