The influence of various factors on immune toxicity assessment of pesticide chemicals.
Various physiological and environmental factors are known to modulate pesticide-induced immune toxicity. Some of these factors studied in our laboratory are: (a) level of exposure (amount, duration and frequency), (b) human cases/animal models, (c) antigen, its route and adjuvant used, (d) immunological method used, (e) nutritional status and pathological conditions, (f) biotransformation and activity of metabolites, (g) physical/emotional stress, and (h) oxidative stress. These factors complicate the assessment of immune toxicity of pesticide, generally affecting the dose at which toxic effects are observed. Working with organochlorine, organophosphate and carbamate compound, we have found that: (1) dietary protein deficiency makes the immune system more susceptible to the toxic effects of pesticides; (2) suppression of immune responses by the immediate metabolites is an important determinant of the toxicity of parent compound; (3) the type and duration of physical or emotional stress and possible involvement of free radicals (oxidative stress) are important in the potentiation of pesticide-induced immune toxicity. An understanding of these risk factors depends largely upon the cellular and molecular events underlying pesticide-induced immune alterations in experimental animals. These factors, therefore, must be considered in the safety/toxicity evaluation of any pesticide. This paper reviews the influence of these factors on the immune-toxicity of some common pesticides.
Department of Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, University of Dehli, Shahdara, India. dbmi@ucms.ernet.in
B D
BD
Banerjee
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D010575:Pesticides