Immunotoxicology
Immunotoxicology
Immunotoxicology (pronunciation: /ɪˌmjuːnoʊtɒkˈsɒlədʒi/) is a branch of toxicology that studies the harmful effects of various substances on the immune system.
Etymology
The term "Immunotoxicology" is derived from three words: "Immuno" referring to the immune system, "toxic" from the Greek word "toxikon" meaning poison, and "ology" from the Greek word "logia" meaning study. Thus, it is the study of the poisonous effects on the immune system.
Definition
Immunotoxicology is defined as the study of the adverse effects on the immune system that result from exposure to chemical substances. These substances, known as immunotoxicants, can lead to either an overactive immune response, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases, or an underactive immune response, such as immunosuppression and immunodeficiency.
Related Terms
- Immunotoxicant: A substance that has a harmful effect on the immune system.
- Immunosuppression: A reduction in the efficacy of the immune system.
- Immunodeficiency: A state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious diseases is compromised or entirely absent.
- Allergies: A hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system.
- Autoimmune diseases: Conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Immunotoxicology
- Wikipedia's article - Immunotoxicology
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