Koller L D
College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331.
Toxicol Pathol. 1987;15(3):346-51. doi: 10.1177/019262338701500313.
Immunotoxicology is a science which deals with the effects of physical and chemical agents and other toxic substances on the immune system. The discipline includes study of the detection, occurrence, adverse effects, and mechanisms of chemically-induced immune dysfunction. Many drugs and chemicals are known to compromise the immune response of a host which is extremely vulnerable and sensitive to perturbation by these agents. The consequences of immune dysfunction may be expressed in reduced resistance to infectious and neoplastic diseases, or enhanced hypersensitivity and autoimmunity. The immunomodulating profiles of xenobiotics may be diverse, involving several components of the immune system, or they may selectively compromise an individual compartment of the immune response. Many drugs and chemicals are known to result in immune disregulation in animals, but a paucity of information is available to indicate the effects of xenobiotics on systemic immunity in humans. Epidemiological studies and research designed to assess chemical immunomodulation in man are necessary to confirm animal data. Further, a definitive diagnosis for chemically-induced immune dysfunction must include several etiologies and body organ systems, since a triad of reciprocal interactions exists between the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems.
免疫毒理学是一门研究物理和化学因子以及其他有毒物质对免疫系统影响的科学。该学科包括对化学诱导的免疫功能障碍的检测、发生、不良反应及机制的研究。已知许多药物和化学物质会损害宿主的免疫反应，而宿主对这些因子的干扰极为脆弱和敏感。免疫功能障碍的后果可能表现为对传染病和肿瘤疾病的抵抗力降低，或超敏反应和自身免疫增强。外来化合物的免疫调节特性可能多种多样，涉及免疫系统的多个组成部分，或者它们可能选择性地损害免疫反应的某个特定部分。已知许多药物和化学物质会导致动物免疫调节紊乱，但缺乏关于外来化合物对人体全身免疫影响的信息。需要进行流行病学研究和旨在评估人体化学免疫调节的研究来证实动物实验数据。此外，对于化学诱导的免疫功能障碍的明确诊断必须包括多种病因和身体器官系统，因为免疫、内分泌和中枢神经系统之间存在三重相互作用。
