Immunological systems

Leishmaniasis affects some 12 million humans aimuaHy ia an area where 350 million are at risk. It is a complex of at least two protozoan diseases, consisting primarily of cutaneous and visceral forms. A mucocutaneous form is considered by some to be another distinct variety. Clinical manifestations of the disease range from an asymptomatic infection to an infection ia which there is considerable destmction of cutaneous tissue and mucous membranes. Leishmaniasis can often be fatal, especially ia the visceral form. The seriousness of the disease depends on the state of the immunological system of the... 

Penninks AH, Seinen W (1980) The lymphocyte as target of toxicity a biochemical approach to dialkyltin induced immunosuppression. Proceedings of the International Conference on the Immunological System as Target for Toxic Damage. Advances in Immunopharmacology, 2 41-60. 

All the jellyfish venoms are toxic but also stimulate the cell mediated and humoral immunological systems of man. After injection of large doses of jellyfish venom into human skin, a perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration appears within the dermis. This infiltration is composed predominantly of helper inducer cells which produce suppressor activity. It appears that the NK enhancement of human leukocytes in patients envenomated by Chrysaora quinquecirrha is depressed when the clinical lesion is inflammatory (10). Recovery from this suppression follows the amelioration of the acute cutaneous reaction. In other instances, envenomated patients have abnormal macrophage migration tests (11). 

Zbinden, G. (1986). A toxicologist s view of immunotoxicology. In Proceedings of an International Seminar in the Immunological System as a Target for Toxic Damage, CIJ, Everueax, France. 

Food allergy is a syndrome that affects 3 to 6% of the population in various countries. In early childhood it occurs as a result of contact with new food components and excessive permeability of GI mucous membranes. As the immunological systems develops, in most cases symptoms recede or food tolerance occurs - usually at the age of three. Studies carried out on a population of Japanese children revealed that the earliest remission occurs in case of allergy to soy, followed by allergy to egg yolk, egg white, wheat, and cows milk (usually between the ages of two and three) (Ebisawa et al., 2003). 

Applications of the immunological systems are limited by the ability to develop suitable antibodies. Most antibiotics are relatively small molecules having molecular weights under 500. 

Immunological Effects. Oral lifetime exposure to 2,3-benzofuran caused no histopathological lesions in lymphatic tissues of rats or mice (NTP 1989). This provides limited evidence that the immunological system may not be a major target for 2,3-benzofuran toxicity, but more definitive conclusions are not possible without further studies. 

These diverse cellular constituents of the immune system provide protection and repair within the body by two principal components the innate and the adaptive immune systems. Erom a functional perspective, these two immunological systems are crucial to the process of future drug design. 

Although some aspects of the human immunological system remain obscure and beyond direct explanation, much of this very subtle protective mechanism has been elucidated and used. 

Farber T, Kasza L, Giovetti A, et al. 1978. Effect of polybrominated biphenyls (Firemaster BP-6) on the immunologic system of the beagle dog. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 45 343. 

In general, Astragalus saponins exert a positive and direct effect on the function of heart. Alternatively, they help to treat related diseases. For instance, they inhibit the formation of lipid peroxides in the cardiac muscle or in the liver, influence the function of enzymes contained in them, decrease blood coagulation, cholesterol and sugar levels in blood, and stimulate the immunological system. They act either direct, blocking the transfer of Ca2+ ions or modulating the function of Na+-K+-ATPase, or, alternatively, help resorb other active principles [150]. 

Lenzi, H.L., Pacheco, R.G., Pelajo-Machado, M., Panasco, M.S., Romanha, W.S. and Lenzi, J.A. (1997). Immunological system and Schistosoma mansoni co-evolutionary immunobiology. What is the eosinophil role in parasite-host relationship Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 92 (Suppl. 2), 19-32. 

McDermott, M.R., and J. Bienenstock. 1979. Evidence for a common mucosal immunologic system. I. Migration of B immunoblast into intestinal, respiratory, and genital tissues. J Immunol 122 1892. 

Immunotoxicity. There are no data available on the immunotoxicity of chlorobenzene in humans by any route of exposure. Histological examination of organs and tissues of the immunological system in mice and rats provide some evidence that chlorobenzene is potentially immunotoxic. Immune function tests would provide a better assessment of potential immunotoxic effects in humans. 

In conclusion, the immunological system was a sensitive target of CDD toxicity under experimental conditions in animals. Effects on all types of mediated immunity were seen at doses of 2,3,7,8-TCDD as low as 0.01 g/kg. Doses of 2,3,7,8-TCDD that were well below the lethal dose affect humoral immunity. Thymic atrophy occurs as single or multiple doses approach those that may increase lethality. Neonates and young animals are much more sensitive than adults to most of the immunological responses. 

Szponar, L. and Respondek, W. 1998. Nutrition and immunological system activity. Proceedings of the Scientific Conference Improvement of Health of Human Population in Poland through Enhanced Health Quality of Food and More Rational Nutrition . National Institute for Research on Food and Nutrition, Warsaw, Poland, pp. 49-79 (in Polish). 

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