Environmental chemical-induced immune dysfunction

Loose, Leland D.; Pittman, Kenneth A.; Benitz, K.-F.; Silkworth, Jay B.; Mueller, Wolfgang; Coulston, F.

doi:10.1016/0147-6513(78)90008-8

Cited by 43 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The initial studies of the susceptibility of the immune system and its possible use for detection of subclinical toxic states were published in the seventies and early eighties (Vos and van Genderen 1973;Vos 1977;Loose et al 1978;Faith et al 1980) when the attention began to focus on the immune system as an important object of toxic action, particularly in connexion with the experiments on rodents. The susceptibility of the immune system to toxic damage can result from several factors.…”

Section: Immunotoxicology Immunotoxicants Pesticides Immunosuppresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunotoxicology and Veterinary Medicine (Review Article)

Kacmar¹,

Pistl²,

Mikula³

1999

Acta Vet. Brno

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Kaãmár P., J. Pistl, I. Mikula: Immunotoxicology and Veterinary Medicine. Acta Vet. Brno, 1999, 68: 57-79. Immunotoxicology investigates unwanted adverse effects of xenobiotics (pesticides, heavy metals from emissions, new DNA-recombinant products, immune response modulators, monoclonal antibodies, drugs and others) on the immune system of man and animals. Immunotoxicology in veterinary medicine deals mostly with the problems of dominant ecological toxicants, such as pesticides. Therefore, the veterinary immunotoxicology can be referred to as ecoimmunotoxicology. DNA-recombinant biopreparations and drugs are also important in this respect. Interactions of various xenobiotics with live organisms pose diverse immunological problems. The present study emphasizes that the assessment of immunotoxicological risk arising from xenogenous substances demands the development of new and more exact immunotoxical testing methods. Moreover, the thorough evaluation of the immunotoxic effect of a respective xenobiotic should be supported by a complex set of tests rather than limited number of them. The extent of functional and non-functional immunity tests should be determined on the basis of knowledge about the mechanism of the toxic effects of xenobiotics in animals. This knowledge can be supplied by biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology and histopathology (histochemistry and immunohistochemistry). The up-to-date knowledge about immunosuppressive effects of pesticides and their possible interference with the genetic material of live organisms indicates that it is necessary to restrict gradually the extensive use of a broad spectrum of pesticides through accentuated application of scientifically justified agrotechnical procedures and the use of transgenic plants developed by molecular genetic methods. To minimize the immunotoxic risk of pesticides to farm animals and free-living animals a system of appropriate undergraduate and graduate education should be developed. This is a long-term process that can obviously be realised by establishing a joint scientific branch of toxicology and pharmacology within the veterinary medicine. A thorough study of mechanisms of immunotoxicity and immunopharmacology of various agents can result in the production of safer protective agrochemicals and more effective drugs. Immunotoxicology, immunotoxicants, pesticides, immunosuppression, ecoimmunotoxicology, immunotoxicological testsThe initial studies of the susceptibility of the immune system and its possible use for detection of subclinical toxic states were published in the seventies and early eighties (Vos and van Genderen 1973;Vos 1977;Loose et al. 1978;Faith et al. 1980) when the attention began to focus on the immune system as an important object of toxic action, particularly in connexion with the experiments on rodents. The susceptibility of the immune system to toxic damage can result from several factors. Host resistance to infectious agents and spontaneous neoplasms depends on immunocompetent cells which are subject to cont...

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Section: Immunotoxicology Immunotoxicants Pesticides Immunosuppresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunotoxicology and Veterinary Medicine (Review Article)

Kacmar¹,

Pistl²,

Mikula³

1999

Acta Vet. Brno

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“…The reduction in thymus size and the reduction in specific antibody titers (T-cell-dependent B-cell responses) are analogous to the observations in human populations, although the specificity of the antibodies differed. Loose et al (1978) conducted one of the early rodent studies of immune system effects of PCBs using male BALB/c mice administered Aroclor 1242 for six weeks. Observations included reduced antibody formation, increased endotoxin sensitivity, and a decreased resistance to immune challenge, all consistent with immunosuppression.…”

Section: Comparison Of Immune Effects Of Pcbs and Tcdd In Humans And mentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodological Limitations May Prevent the Observation of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Bioassays of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Strauss

Heiger-Bernays

2012

Toxicol Pathol

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Epidemiological studies increasingly indicate that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contribute to the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). In rodent bioassays, PCBs have long been demonstrated to be liver carcinogens, and excess tumors in the thyroid, lung, and other organs have been observed in more recent studies. Leukemias and lymphomas now classified as NHL were observed in one bioassay in which a concurrent infection was also reported. Clinical and epidemiological studies show immunosuppression and inflammation are strong risk factors for NHL, and both epidemiology and toxicology studies show that PCBs are immunosuppressive and cause inflammation. We reviewed published carcinogenesis bioassays conducted using commercial PCB products, individual congeners, and congener mixtures, with a focus on bioassay protocols and immune-related observations. Based on a mode-of-action framework for PCBs, we suggest that an immune challenge in conjunction with PCB exposure may be necessary for the observation of NHL. We conclude that the lack of concordance between human epidemiology and animal bioassays with respect to NHL may simply be the result of the bioassay methodology used, and not a difference in underlying biology. The lack of concordance should not be construed as evidence that PCBs do not contribute to the risk of NHL.

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“…PCBs decrease antibody production in response to injection of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in PCB-treated mice and nonhuman primates (41)(42)(43). A reduction of serum IgA levels seems to be a consistent component of PCB immunotoxicity (42,44,45). B cells and particularly B cell differentiation are emerging as important targets for halogenated hydrocarbons (36).…”

Section: Immune Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Possible mechanisms of action of environmental contaminants on St. Lawrence beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

Guise

Martineau

Béland

et al. 1995

Environ Health Perspect

156

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A small isolated population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) that are highly contaminated by pollutants, mostly of industrial origin, resides in the St. Lawrence estuary, Qu6bec, Canada. Overhunting in the first half of the century was the probable cause for this population to dwindle from several thousand animals to the current estimate of 500. The failure of the population to recover might be due to contamination by organochlorine compounds, which are known to lead to reproductive failure and immunosuppression in domestic and laboratory animals and seals. Functional and morphological changes have been demonstrated in thyroid gland and adrenal cortex in many species exposed to organochlorinated compounds, including seals. Morphological lesions, although different, were also found in belugas. Functional evaluation of thyroid and adrenal glands of contaminated (St. Lawrence) versus much less contaminated (Arctic) belugas is currently under way. Necropsy of St. Lawrence belugas showed numerous severe and disseminated infections with rather mildly pathogenic bacteria, which suggests immunosuppression. Organochlorine compounds and other contaminants found in beluga whales cause immunosuppression in a variety of animal species including seals. Thirty-seven percent of all the tumors reported in cetaceans were observed in St. Lawrence beluga whales. This could be explained by two different mechanisms: high exposure to environmental carcinogens and suppression of immunosurveillance against tumors. Overall, St. Lawrence belugas might well represent the risk associated with long-term exposure to pollutants present in their environment and might be a good model to predict health problems that could emerge in highly exposed human populations over time. -Environ Health Perspect 1 03(Suppl 4): 73-77 (1995)

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Environmental chemical-induced immune dysfunction

Cited by 43 publications

References 37 publications

Immunotoxicology and Veterinary Medicine (Review Article)

Immunotoxicology and Veterinary Medicine (Review Article)

Methodological Limitations May Prevent the Observation of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Bioassays of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Possible mechanisms of action of environmental contaminants on St. Lawrence beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

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