Pesticide induced immunotoxicity in humans: A comprehensive review of the existing evidence

Modulation of macrophage functionality induced in vitro by chlorpyrifos and carbendazim pesticides

“…A general consensus is that organophosphates and carbamates can affect immunity by interfering with cell signaling pathways, which could result in changes in cytokine production, surface marker expression and cell activation (Corsini et al 2013). Although the molecular basis of the mechanisms by which CPF and CBZ down-regulate immune cell responses in vitro remains unclear, immune modulation via structural/functional changes in cell populations exposed to pesticides seems plausible (Voccia et al 1999).…”

“…One factor that contributes to the immunosuppressive effects of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides might be an inhibition of esterases that are associated with macrophage membrane (Rodgers 1996;Pope 1999;Chambers & Oppenheimer 2004). Indeed, changes in some immune cell phagocytosis and exocytosis pathways have been observed in hosts exposed to pesticides (Wang et al 2010;Corsini et al 2013). These pesticides could also affect immune cell function by acting on the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor present at the surface of immune cells (Esser et al 2009).…”

“…Several lines of evidence report that carbamates and organophosphates affect immunocompetence and exert immunotoxic effects (Colosio et al 1999;Dewailly et al 2000, Galloway & Handy 2003Takahashi 2010;Li et al 2013). In fact, immune disorders have been described in humans chronically exposed to CPF (Thrasher et al 1993) and CBZ (Corsini et al 2013). Furthermore, epidemiological studies related to human immunotoxicity from carbamates and organophosphates highlighted their associations with immune-related diseases (Duramad & Holland 2011;Reiss et al 2015).…”

“…Furthermore, epidemiological studies related to human immunotoxicity from carbamates and organophosphates highlighted their associations with immune-related diseases (Duramad & Holland 2011;Reiss et al 2015). Such pesticide-induced dysregulations of the immune system have been reported to be associated with increases in host predisposition to allergies (Corsini et al 2013), autoimmune disorders (Kassi & Moutsatsou 2010), infectious diseases ) and even cancers (Dietert 2011;Alavanja & Bonner 2012).…”

Immunotoxicology: challenges in the 21st century and in vitro opportunities

“…Still, it is difficult to assess whether mild to moderate immunotoxicity caused by chemical exposure predisposes to infections of the upper respiratory tract or re-activation of latent viruses (herpes), the most common manifestations of therapeutic immunosuppression. As cited below, there is not much such evidence in humans: Immunosuppression induced by pesticides may explain the increased incidence of infections in humans observed in several studies (reviewed in Corsini et al, 2013) and two recently published studies indicate that perfluorinated compounds, an important class of environmental contaminants commonly detected in blood samples from both wildlife and humans, may lower vaccine protection in children (Grandjean et al, 2012;Granum et al, 2013). Further studies are clearly needed to address this critical point.…”