Immune function macrophage functions

Rodgers, K., St Amand, K., Xiong, S., 1996. Effects of malathion on humoral immunity and macrophage function in mast cell-deficient mice. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 31, 252-258. 

Male mice exposed to 7.3 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks had significantly decreased spleen weights and decreased neutrophil counts (Hoechst 1984b), indicating that immune activity in mice may also be affected. An intermediate-duration oral MRL of 0.005 mg/kg/day was derived based on the NOAEL of 0.45 mg/kg/day for immunotoxicity identified in the Banerjee and Hussain (1986) study. In support of these positive findings, Khurana et al. (1998) observed decreased macrophage functionality, in the absence of any other apparent toxicological effects, in 1-day-old broiler chicks fed 30 ppm endosulfan in the diet for 4 or 8 weeks. 

Pacifici R, Di Carlo S, Bacosi A, Zuccaro P (1993) Macrophage functions in drugs of abuse-treated mice. Int J Immunopharmacol 15(6) 711-716 Park JE, Barbul A (2004) Understanding the role of immune regulation in wound healing. Am J Surg 187(5A) 11S-16S... 

Macrophage function as sensors is essential for the elimination of pathogens, and also for the regulation of the adaptive immune response and of the inflammatory response [94]. 

Bowser, D.H., K. Frenkel, and J.T. Zelikoff. 1994. Effects of in vitro nickel exposure on the macrophage-mediated immune functions of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 52 367-373. 

Immune Functionality Measurement of B andT Lymphocytes, NK Cells, and Macrophage Functions... 

Black, P.L. et al., Antitumor response to recombinant murine interferon gamma correlates with enhanced immune function of organ-associated, but not recirculating cytolytic T lymphocytes and macrophages, Cancer Immunol Immunother., 37, 299, 1993. 

In contrast to adaptive immune function, fewer studies have examined effects of TCDD on the innate immune system. Furthermore, of the limited data available, much of it is inconsistent. For example, natural killer (NK) cell activity has been reported to be unaffected,80,93 diminished,94 and increased95 following exposure to TCDD. Although a thorough assessment of AhR expression in all innate cell lineages has not been conducted, neutrophils and macrophages express the AhR,8,96 and neutrophils are affected... 

Respiratory allergies and infections are the most common form of illness in the United States and Europe and account for more missed school and work days than any other disease [1], A substantial body of experimental work has clearly shown that airborne toxicants such as tobacco smoke, ozone, and other air pollutants can alter many aspects of the host defense network to either decrease resistance to infection, or exacerbate respiratory allergies and asthma [2], Exposure to air toxicants can suppress a number of key host defenses including mucociliary clearance in the airways, pulmonary macrophage function, and development of specific immune responses such as IgG antibody production and cell mediated immunity. In contrast, immune stimulation in the form of increased T cell activity and IgE antibody formation has also has been shown to occur under some circumstances, resulting in increased incidence or severity of allergic lung disease. 

Nonspecific immunity Macrophage function—in vitro phagocytosis of fluorescent covaspheres, killing of Listeria monocytogenes or of tumor cells [basal and activated by macrophage activating factor (MAF)]. 

Heavy Metals. Some heavy metals such as gold and platinum are used pharmacologically as immunomodulators to treat rheumatoid arthritis and as antineoplastic drugs, respectively. Most heavy metals inhibit mitogenicity, antibody responses, and host resistance to bacterial or viral challenge, and tumor growth. Platinum has been shown to suppress humoral immunity, lymphocyte proliferation, and macrophage function (Lawrence, 1985). Clinically, mild to moderate myelosuppression may also be evident with transient leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. 

As described previously, the humoral immune response results in the proliferation, activation, and subsequent production of antibodies by B cells following antigenic exposure and stimulation. The functionality and interplay between the three primary types of immune cells (macrophage, B cells, and T cells) required to elicit a humoral response can be assessed through various in vitro assays using cells from the peripheral blood or lymphoid tissues. 

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