Immune Suppression as Related to Toxicology

Infectious Disease and Contaminants in Urban Wildlife: Unseen and Often Overlooked Threats

“…The immune consequences of exposure to these contaminants can vary according to dose and length of exposure, but they can include reduction in antibody production, loss of proliferation of T-lymphocytes when exposed to mitogens (a mitogen is an agent that induces mitosis, especially lymphocyte proliferation), and reduced cytotoxic responses of natural killer cells. DDT has been shown to have immunotoxic effects in both mammals and birds in the lab, leading to a reduction in antibody response and increased susceptibility to infection (Vos and Moore 1977). Laboratory investigations have also found that numerous common pollutants such as PCBs, polybrominated biphenyls, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin have effects on both humoral and cell-mediated immunity in mammalian and avian species (Faith et al 1980;Exon et al 1985).…”

Immunotoxicology: A brief history, current status and strategies for future immunotoxicity assessment

“…Allergic hypersensitivity was well known to clinicians and symptoms were readily apparent, and therefore was not the initial focus of the developing toxicology subspecialty of immunotoxicology. The first review in the field of immunotoxicology was published by Vos in 1977 [2], and, as research expanded during the years that followed, many of the assays, methodologies and approaches that are currently used to identify potential immunotoxicants were developed. Over the years, advances in our understanding of basic immunology have made it clear that allergy, immunosuppression and, in some cases, autoimmunity, are a matter of polarization of the immune response by immunotoxicants, rather than independent outcomes of chemical exposure.…”

Regulatory Forum Opinion Piece*

“…The immune system is a complex, highly regulated network encompassing multiple compartments, cell types, and mediators, and has been recognized for decades as a potential ''target organ'' of toxicity (Vos 1977). Immune system activation can result in a range of effects, including the potential for cascading (uncompensated) cytokine release resulting in severe systemic toxicity (i.e., cytokine storm).…”