TY - JOUR
T1 - The immune system as a target for environmental chemicals
T2 - Xenoestrogens and other compounds
AU - Inadera, Hidekuni
N1 - Funding Information:
Our research was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
PY - 2006/7/15
Y1 - 2006/7/15
N2 - The immune system in higher organisms is under integrated control and has the capacity to rapidly respond to the environment. Recently, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases. Environmental factors likely play a major role in the explosion of allergy. Although the "hygiene hypothesis" may explain the increase in allergic diseases which are prone to T helper 2 (Th2) immune responses, recent findings highlight the possible involvement of environmental xenobiotic chemicals which can modulate normal immune function. Interestingly, several reports suggest that the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus, a Th2-type autoimmune disease, is also increasing, although the development of high-sensitivity immunological tests may be a possible cause. The increased prevalence of autoimmune disease in women, the sexual dimorphism of the immune response, and the immunomodulatory effects of sex steroids, have focused attention on the role of chemicals which influence sex steroids in the development of immune diseases. Moreover, recent reports indicate that some environmental chemicals can work on nuclear hormone receptors, other than sex hormone receptors, and modulate immune reactions. This review focuses on the impact of environmental chemicals on immune system function and pathogenesis of immune diseases, including allergy and autoimmune diseases.
AB - The immune system in higher organisms is under integrated control and has the capacity to rapidly respond to the environment. Recently, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases. Environmental factors likely play a major role in the explosion of allergy. Although the "hygiene hypothesis" may explain the increase in allergic diseases which are prone to T helper 2 (Th2) immune responses, recent findings highlight the possible involvement of environmental xenobiotic chemicals which can modulate normal immune function. Interestingly, several reports suggest that the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus, a Th2-type autoimmune disease, is also increasing, although the development of high-sensitivity immunological tests may be a possible cause. The increased prevalence of autoimmune disease in women, the sexual dimorphism of the immune response, and the immunomodulatory effects of sex steroids, have focused attention on the role of chemicals which influence sex steroids in the development of immune diseases. Moreover, recent reports indicate that some environmental chemicals can work on nuclear hormone receptors, other than sex hormone receptors, and modulate immune reactions. This review focuses on the impact of environmental chemicals on immune system function and pathogenesis of immune diseases, including allergy and autoimmune diseases.
KW - Allergy
KW - Diesel exhaust particle
KW - Dioxin
KW - Metal
KW - Organotin
KW - Xenoestrogen
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646803790&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.toxlet.2006.03.006
DO - 10.1016/j.toxlet.2006.03.006
M3 - 総説
C2 - 16697129
AN - SCOPUS:33646803790
SN - 0378-4274
VL - 164
SP - 191
EP - 206
JO - Toxicology Letters
JF - Toxicology Letters
IS - 3
ER -