Perinatal Immunotoxicity : Why Adult Exposure Assessment Fails to Predict Risk

By Dietert, Rodney R.

Book Id: WPLBN0000018533
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.1 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Perinatal Immunotoxicity : Why Adult Exposure Assessment Fails to Predict Risk
Author:	Dietert, Rodney R.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, United Nations., United Nations. Office for Disarmament Affairs
Collections:	Government Library Collection, Disarmament Documents
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	United Nations- Office for Disarmament Affairs (Unoda)


Citation APA MLA Chicago R. Dieter, B. R. (n.d.). Perinatal Immunotoxicity : Why Adult Exposure Assessment Fails to Predict Risk. Retrieved from https://www.gutenberg.us/

Description
Government Reference Publication

Excerpt
Excerpt: Recent research has pointed to the developing immune system as a remarkably sensitive toxicologic target for environmental chemicals and drugs. In fact, the perinatal period before and just after birth is replete with dynamic immune changes, many of which do not occur in adults. These include not only the basic maturation and distribution of immune cell types and selection against autoreactive lymphocytes but also changes designed specifically to protect the pregnancy against immunemediated miscarriage. The newborn is then faced with critical immune maturational adjustments to achieve an immune balance necessary to combat myriad childhood and later-life diseases. All these processes set the fetus and neonate completely apart from the adult regarding immunotoxicologic risk. Yet for decades, safety evaluation has relied almost exclusively upon exposure of the adult immune system to predict perinatal immune risk. Recent workshops and forums have suggested a benefit in employing alternative exposures that include exposure throughout early life stages. However, issues remain concerning when and where such applications might be required. In this review we discuss the reasons why immunotoxic assessment is important for current childhood diseases and why adult exposure assessment cannot predict the effect of xenobiotics on the developing immune system. It also provides examples of developmental immunotoxicants where age-based risk appears to differ. Finally, it stresses the need to replace adult exposure assessment for immune evaluation with protocols that can protect the developing immune system. Key words: allergy, atopy, autoimmunity, children?s health, developmental immunotoxicology, immune balance, immunoglobulin E, perinatal risk, safety testing.