Introduction: Altered immune function may be an indicator of increased potential for the development of immunologically based diseases such as cancer, hypersensitivity and autoimmunity.
Materials and methods: To investigate whether Th17 and Th22 cells are targeted by pesticide exposure, we analyzed IL-17 and IL-22 serum levels in a population of 64 greenhouse workers.
Results and conclusion: A significant increase in IL-22 concentration was observed in serum of the exposed subjects compared to controls. These findings support the hypothesis that exposure to pesticides may reduce host defenses against infections and cancer.