Immunotoxicology (sometimes abbreviated as ITOX) is the study of the toxicity of foreign substances called xenobiotics and their effects on the immune system.
[1] Some toxic agents that are known to alter the immune system include: industrial chemicals, heavy metals, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, drugs, ultraviolet radiation, air pollutants and some biological materials.
[1] Changes in the adaptive immune system can be observed by measuring levels of cytokine production, modification of surface markers, activation, and cell differentiation.
[1] T regulatory cells, which are critical to maintaining the correct level of response in the immune system, also appear to be altered by some agents.
[5] In the presence of certain immunotoxic substances, granulocytes of the innate immune system have also been observed to be damaged causing the rare disease agranulocytosis.
[4] Hypersensitive or allergic reactions, such as asthma, are commonly associated with immunotoxic agents and the number of people exhibiting these symptoms is increasing in industrial countries.
[1] Agents that are known for creating a hypersensitive response include poison ivy, fragrances, cosmetics, metals, preservatives, and pesticides.
[4] Changes in the circulating regulatory and responder T cells are good indicators of an autoimmune response induced by an immunotoxic agent.