Immune system development gestation

As with the development of other organ systems, the development of the immune system is a highly regulated process. Table 19.1 and Figure 19.1 provide a list of known events or markers that occur during immune system development. In humans, hematopoiesis begins at approximately 3-4 weeks of gestation with the development of blood... 

In utero exposure of mice to benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) resulted in suppression of the antibody response to SRBC, which persisted for up to 78 weeks in the offspring.102 In a follow up study, injection of B[a]P from gestation day 11 to 17 resulted in suppressed antibody responses to SRBC, MLR and graft versus host responses (GvH). It was suggested that lesions caused by B[a]P in the developing immune system may predispose the host to the growth of neoplasms.103... 

Figure 9.1-2 Comparison of developmental landmarks in the developing irnmime systems of the rodent (A) and human (B). Data have been normahzed to three key developmental phases—gestation, lactation, and maturation to young adulthood, and clearly demonstrate that the development of the immune system of the rodent is delayed compared to that of the human, a fact that should be considered in the design and interpretation of DIT studies. Adapted from Holsapple et al. (2003) and Birrns-Naas et al. (2008).

The immune and haematopoietic systems arise from pleuri-potent stem cells (West, 2002 Holsapple et al., 2003). As gestational development proceeds, these give rise to haematopoietic... 

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