Effects of neonicotinoid and organophosphorus insecticides on macrophage functions

Abstract

Neonicotinoid insecticides and organophosphorus (OP) insecticides that act on the cholinergic nervous system of insects, are major insecticides used in agriculture throughout the world. The effects of neonicotinoid insecticides and OP insecticides cause overstimulation and desensitization in the nervous system by interacting with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and inhibiting acetylcholine-esterase, respectively. The immunotoxicity of OP insecticides to human has been reported, including exacerbation of inflammation and asthma, and we have reported that diazinon, one of OP insecticides, modulated macrophage functions. Although neonicotinoid insecticides are thought to be relatively low toxic for human compared to OP insecticides due to the low affinity of mammalian nAChRs, less is known about the exact effects of neonicotinoid insecticides.

　In this study, we investigated the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides and OP insecticides on macrophage functions, such as cytokine production, the levels of cell-surface molecule expression, and phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. We also investigated the induction of autophagy by neonicotinoid insecticides and OP insecticides.