Immune system impairment

Some members of a community that were exposed to trichloroethylene along with a variety of other solvents in their drinking water complained of respiratory disorders, but the complaints could not be attributed specifically to trichloroethylene (Byers et al. 1988). This effect may have been due to immune system impairment resulting in increased susceptibility to infection. A study in mice in which inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene increased the susceptibility to pulmonary infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Aranyi et al. 1986) provides evidence that trichloroethylene may result in adverse respiratory effects through effects on the immune system. 

Fernandez-Salguero, P., et. al., Immune system impairment and hepatic fibrosis in mice lacking the dioxin-binding Ah receptor, Science, 268, 722, 1995. 

Femandez-Salguero, P., T. Pineau, D.M. Hilbert, T. McPhail, S.S. Lee, S. Kimura, D.W. Nebert, S. Rudikoff, J.M. Ward and F.J. Gonzalez. Immune system impairment and hepatic fibrosis in mice lacking the dioxin-binding Ah receptor. Science 268 722—726, 1995. 

Descotes G, Pinard D, Gallas J-F, Penacchio E, Blot C, Moreau C. Extension of the 4-week safety study for detecting immune system impairment appears not necessary examples of cyclosporin A in rats. Toxicology 1996 112 245-256. 

Hibbs ML, Tarlinton DM. Armes J. Grail D. Hodgson G, Maghtto R, Stacker SA, Dunn AR Multiple defects in the immune system of Lyn-deficient mice, culminating in autoimmune disease. Cell 1995 83 301-311. Nishizumi H, Yamamoto T Impaired tyrosine phosphorylation and Ca + mobiUzation, but not degranulation, in Lyn-deficient bone marrow-derived mast cells. J Immunol 1997 158 2350-2355. 

Globally, undernutrition is widespread, leading to impaired growth, defective immune systems, and reduced work capacity. By contrast, in developed countries, there is often excessive food consumption (especially of fat), leading to obesity and to the development of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. Deficiencies of vitamin A, iron, and iodine pose major health concerns in many countries, and deficiencies of other vitamins and minerals are a major cause of iU health. In developed countries, nutrient deficiency is rare, though there are vulnerable sections of the population at risk. Intakes of minerals and vitamins that are adequate to prevent deficiency may be inadequate to promote optimum health and longevity. 

Because immunotherapy is expensive, has potential risks, and requires a major time commitment from patients, it should only be considered in select patients. Good candidates include patients who have a strong history of severe symptoms unsuccessfully controlled by avoidance and pharmacotherapy and patients who have been unable to tolerate the adverse effects of drug therapy. Poor candidates include patients with medical conditions that would compromise the ability to tolerate an anaphylactic-type reaction, patients with impaired immune systems, and patients with a history of nonadherence to therapy. 

Faith, R.E. and Moore, J.A., Impairment of thymus-dependent immune functions by exposure of the developing immune system to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 3, 451, 1977... 

---