Unchanged cytokine production under exposure of excess manganese

Manganese (Mn) plays essential physiological roles, but the effect of excess Mn on immune system has not been reported. In the present study, we examined the frequency of cytokine-secreting cells and the production of cytokines in the excess Mn-treated mice using enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay and enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicated that the severe exposure of hosts's immune system to excess Mn neither caused drastic changes in the frequency nor cytokine production unless the cell viability was affected by the Mn levels.