Immune system, organization

It is evident that immunopharmacological drugs are of great significance in diseases of the immune system, organ transplants, viral infections, and in particular, in the treatment of AIDS. 

The Institute of Medicine cited eight major areas of increased scientific understanding over the past 15 years the roie of heiper T ceiis in antibody and ceii-mediated immunity as weii as cytotoxicity, mucosai immunity, mucosai immune system organization, moiecuiar aspects of viruience, design of recombinant protein vaccines, novei vaccine deiivery systems, deveiopment of novei adjuvants, and vaccines against autoimmune diseases. 

To fully understand the critical periods of susceptibility for toxicity to the primate immune system, an understanding of the timings of the development of each of the major immune system organs is required. The following narrative briefly describes the development of the macaque immune system and discusses the relevance of these timings to developmental toxicity study designs. 

Of particular interest are the last three reasons the side effect of these aspects of modern medicine is a group of individuals who are more susceptible to infections. These individuals are usually immunocompromised and, thus, are susceptible to pathogens and even to microorganisms that would not typically attack a healthy individual. Microbes that are innocuous in the immunologically intact host can cause devastating infections in patients with compromised immune systems organisms causing these infections are termed opportunists [1]. 

SECOMBES CJ (1996), The nonspecific immune system cellular defenses . In Iwama G, Nakanishi T, editors. The fish immune system organism, pathogen and environment. Academic Press, Inc. 

ZAPATA AG, CHIBA A, VARAS A (1996), Cells and tissues of the immune system of fish . In G. Iwama and T. Nakanishi, Editors, The fish immune system organism, pathogen, and environment, San Diego, Academic Press. 

SCHRECK, c. B. (1996) Immunomodulation endogenous factors. In The Fish Immune System Organism, Pathogen and Environment. Iwama, G. Nakanishi T. (Eds). Academic Press. pp311-337. 

The prophylactic stimulation of the immune system using vaccines and bacterins is time-consuming. Of even greater value would be the abiUty to activate the system to combat a disease attack already underway, or to be able to increase the response to abnormal cells and neutralize neoplasia in any organ of the body. Several compounds, some unique entities and some already in use for other purposes, have shown potential utiUty as such nonspecific immune stimulants. 

In addition to their endocrine disrupting properties, it must be appreciated that many of the chemicals in question possess more general toxic properties, which may be potentiated by metabolism by the organism. Several PAHs, PCBs and PCDDs are carcinogenic, while certain phthalate esters can enhance the excretion of zinc, potentially leading to zinc deficiency. Zinc, an essential element, plays a vital role in spermatogenesis and mature T-cell production. Deficiency may result in abnormalities of the male reproductive system, depletion of spermatogenesis and suppression of the immune system. 

Structures expressed in the organs of an individual against his own immune system can mount an immune response. Autoantigens can be organ specific (e.g. insulin) or present in all cells (e.g. DNA). 

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