Humoral Markers of TCE auto immunity - Epiphenonmena?

BrooklynDodger(s) Comment: This is not the Dodger(s)' field, although not clear what that field is. Nevertheless, the investigators here identify markers of humoral auto immunity, not cell mediated. But the health consequences quoted as being associated with TCE are not sneezing and wheezing (humoral) but allergic dermatitis, cell mediated.

Oxidative and nitrosative stress in trichloroethene-mediated autoimmune response
Toxicology, Volume 229, Issue 3, 18 January 2007, Pages 186-193
Gangduo Wang, Ping Cai, G.A.S. Ansari, M. Firoze Khan

Trichloroethene (TCE) is an industrial degreasing solvent and widespread environmental contaminant. Exposure to TCE is associated with autoimmunity. The mode of action of TCE is via its oxidative metabolism, and most likely, immunotoxicity is mediated via haptenization of macromolecules and subsequent induction of immune responses. To better understand the role of protein haptenization through TCE metabolism, we immunized MRL+/+ mice with albumin adducts of various TCE reactive intermediates. Serum immunoglobulins and cytokine levels were measured to determine immune responses against haptenized albumin. We found antigen-specific IgG responses of the IgG subtypes IgG₁, IgG_2a, and IgG_2b, with IgG₁ predominating. Serum levels of G-CSF were increased in immunized mice, suggesting macrophage activation. Liver histology revealed lymphocyte infiltration in the lobules and the portal area following immunization with formyl-albumin. Our findings suggest that proteins haptenized by metabolites of TCE may act as neo-antigens that can induce humoral immune responses and T cell-mediated hepatitis.