Immunopharmacology and its toxicological problems.
Many pharmacologically active substances (membrane active drugs, antimitotics, hormones, etc.) affect the immune system. According to the dosage of the drugs a continuous gradient from immunotoxic to immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory action can be recorded. The effect of drugs on the immune system can be estimated by testing the: a) natural factors of immunity (by inflammatory reactivity, phagocytosis, serum protein components, quantitative relation between macrophages, T and B lymphocytes in tissues and blood), b) T cell-mediated immunity (TCMI) (as T lymphocyte transformation, cytotoxicity, augmentation and suppressor effects), c) B cell-mediated immunity (BCMI) (immunoglobulin production, antibody formation, polyclonal activation).
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA