Germolec D R
Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Toxicol Lett. 2004 Apr 1;149(1-3):109-14. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2003.12.025.
In spite of extensive laboratory data on the effects of chemicals and drugs on immunologic parameters in laboratory animals, and a well established correlation between suppression of immune function and increased incidence and/or severity of certain infectious and neoplastic diseases, interpreting data from experimental immunotoxicology studies for risk assessment purposes has proved challenging. This is particularly true when the immunological effects are minimal-to-moderate in nature, as might be expected from inadvertent chemical exposures. This review examines the methods used to evaluate immune responses in laboratory rodents and their utility to predict disease outcomes. The available data suggest that if a large enough population is exposed and that the challenge dose or virulence of pathogenic organisms or tumor cells is sufficient, small changes in immune surveillance could increase the background incidence and burden of disease in the human population.
尽管有大量关于化学物质和药物对实验动物免疫参数影响的实验室数据，并且免疫功能抑制与某些传染病和肿瘤性疾病的发病率增加和/或严重程度之间存在明确的相关性，但为风险评估目的解读实验免疫毒理学研究数据已被证明具有挑战性。当免疫效应本质上为轻度至中度时，情况尤其如此，这可能是无意接触化学物质所预期的。本综述探讨了用于评估实验啮齿动物免疫反应的方法及其预测疾病结果的效用。现有数据表明，如果接触人群足够大，并且致病生物或肿瘤细胞的攻击剂量或毒力足够，免疫监视的微小变化可能会增加人群中疾病的背景发病率和负担。
