Penicillin, immunotoxicity

Bartlett A, Dearden JC, Sibley PR. Quantitative structure-activity relationships in the prediction of penicillin immunotoxicity. Quant Struct-Act Relat 1995 14 258-63. 

Figure 7.81 Antibody-dependent phagocyte-mediated lysis of red cells in penicillin immunotoxicity (type II hypersensitivity). Abbreviation NK, natural killer cell.

The mechanism of penicillin immunotoxicity relies on the formation of a covalent conjugate with soluble or cellular protein. There is a clear relationship between conjugation to proteins and cells and the... 

Thus, immune-media ted responses can be immediate or delayed and localized or widespread. The response can be restricted to the area of exposure or can be systemic. Similar compounds may cross-react or produce very different responses. Many different foreign compounds can cause an immunotoxic response drugs such as penicillin, halothane, and hydralazine, industrial chemicals such as trimellitic anhydride and toluene di-isocyanate, natural chemicals such as pentadecylcatechol found in poison ivy, food additives such as tartazine, and food constituents such as egg white (albumen). 

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