title: Small molecules as friends and foes of the immune system.
abstract: Every organism is in contact with numerous small molecules (<1000 Da). Chemicals may cause or trigger adverse health effects, including diseases of the immune system. They may also be exploited as drugs. In this review, we look at the interaction between small molecules and the immune system. We discuss the hapten and pharmacological interaction concepts of chemical interaction to trigger T cells and how chemicals can participate in cellular signaling pathways. As a sensor of small molecules, the arylhydrocarbon receptor controls expression of many xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, including those in the immunological barrier organs; the skin and gut. The relevance of the arylhydrocarbon receptor in the dynamic interaction of the immune system with the chemical environment is therefore discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Umweltmedizinische Forschung gGmbH, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadow
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jux
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chmill
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Esser
mesh_terms: D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D015262:Xenobiotics