Autoimmune Toxins

Exposures to xenobiotics have been associated with the onset of several autoimmune diseases. Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE), scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis, and other maladies 

The causal relationship between environmental exposure and autoimmune disease onset is seen from the data derived from studies of monozygotic twins. The concordance of autoimmune disease among such twins is only in the 25-40% range, low enough to implicate environmental exposure, yet high enough to indicate genetic influences as well)33 

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Bcl-2 B cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) is a family of proteins that regulate apoptosis (programmed cell death). Apoptosis is a necessary process whereby aged or damaged cells are replaced by new cells. Dysfunction of the apoptosis process results in disease inhibition of apoptosis results in cancer, autoimmune disorder, and viral infection, whereas increased apoptosis gives rise to neurodegenerative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes, ischemic injury, and toxin-induced liver disease. 

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin as well as the joints. As is the case with many autoimmune disorders, the exact causes of psoriasis are unclear however, it is presumed that an accumulation of toxins in the body may be the root cause. 

Whereas the normally functioning immune response can successfully neutralize toxins, inactivate viruses, destroy transformed cells, and eliminate pathogens, inappropriate responses can lead to extensive tissue damage (hypersensitivity) or reactivity against self antigens (autoimmunity) conversely, impaired reactivity to appropriate targets (immunodeficiency) may occur and abrogate essential defense mechanisms. 

Primary biliary cirrhosis Drugs/toxins Cholangitis Autoimmune hepatitis... 

Autoimmune hepatitis Wilson s disease aj-antitrypsin disease Metabolic/inherited diseases Drugs/toxins... 

Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 are related mycotoxins that compromise the autoimmune system at low levels and can cause cancer at higher levels the toxins are... 

Several etiologic factors are implicated as the cause of RPGN toxins, drugs, viral and bacterial infections, neoplasms, autoimmune mechanisms, and various immunogenetic factors. ... 

Immunotoxins (ITs) are chimeric proteins consisting of an antibody linked to a toxin. The antibody confers specificity (ability to recognize and react with the target), whereas the toxin confers cytotoxicity (ability to kill the target) (1-3). ITs have been used in both mice and humans to eliminate tumor cells, autoimmune cells, and virus-infected cells (4-6). 

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