Ammonium perfluorooctanoate substantially alters phenotype and cytokine secretion of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro

Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) are commercially used for their surfactant properties combined with chemical and thermal stability. Differentiation of peripheral monocytes to immature dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of the PFCA, ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO, 200 microM) led to a considerably increased expression of CD86 and HLA-DR on immature DCs. However, these phenotypic changes were not reflected by an increased T cell-stimulatory capacity of the cells. Notably, activated, fully mature APFO-treated DCs secreted significantly less IL-12 and IL-10 than control cells. Thus, APFO at non-cytotoxic concentration affects the phenotype and cytokine secretion of human DCs.