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PLATFORM SESSION "IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY", SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY 45TH ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 5-9, 2006, SAN DIEGO, CA
Citation:
GILBERT, K. M. AND R. W. LUEBKE. PLATFORM SESSION "IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY", SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY 45TH ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 5-9, 2006, SAN DIEGO, CA. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY. Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, 3(4):213-215, (2006).
Impact/Purpose:
To present an overview on immunotoxicology
Description:
For many years the primary endpoints for evaluating the toxicity of xenobiotics were carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. However, it gradually became apparent that exposure to chemicals at levels lower than those shown to be directly carcinogenic may negatively impact other facets of human health, such as the immune system. The official recognition of the discipline of immunotoxicology dates from the 1970s which saw the first comprehensive review of xenobiotic-induced immune reactivity in laboratory animals (Vos, 1977) and the description of basic immunotoxicity screening methods by the National Toxicological Program.
Assessing the immunological impact of the hundreds of chemicals to which humans are exposed is a daunting task. This task is complicated by the complexity of the immune system itself. All of the cells and soluble mediators of both the innate and acquired immune response represent potential targets on which xenobiotics can act singly or in combination to alter immune reactivity. In addition, although immunotoxicity is most often thought of in terms of immune suppression, certain toxicants stimulate rather than inhibit the immune system. Lastly, evaluating immunotoxicity must take into account the fact that the developing immune system may react differently than the mature immune system to toxicant exposure.
A dysfunctional immune system can disrupt many different physiological responses. Consequently, although immunotoxicology research is challenging, work in this area is greatly needed to help delineate the adverse human health effects of pharmaceuticals and occupational and environmental toxicant exposure.
The participants in the Platform Session on Immunotoxicity, presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology (2006) understand the challenges and potential rewards involved in this field of research, and have significantly contributed to the current state of knowledge. Some of the presentations from the session are represented as manuscripts in this volume. The following overview of the session was prepared from the perspective of the Co-Chairs (Dr. Kathleen Gilbert and Dr. Robert Luebke).