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Developmental immunotoxicology of lead
Rodney R Dietert1, Ji-Eun Lee, Irshad Hussain
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. rrd1@cornell.edu
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
|July 9, 2004
Summary
Lead exposure, a developmental immunotoxicant, subtly alters immune cell function, particularly shifting T helper cell balance. This immune dysregulation, especially during gestation, may increase susceptibility to diseases like childhood asthma.
Area of Science:
- Immunotoxicology
- Developmental toxicology
- Environmental health
Background:
- Lead is a known developmental immunotoxicant causing immune alterations in humans and animals.
- Low to moderate lead exposure causes subtle, yet functionally significant, immune changes, not widespread cell loss.
- Lead exposure alters the balance of T helper cell responses, favoring T helper 2 over T helper 1.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the characteristics of lead-induced immunotoxicity, focusing on experimental animal data.
- To provide a framework for understanding toxicant exposure effects across different life stages.
- To explore developmental windows of immune susceptibility to lead exposure.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental animal studies on lead immunotoxicity.
- Analysis of dose-response relationships and qualitative immune alterations across life stages.
- Examination of lead's potential role as a perinatal risk factor.
Main Results:
- Lead exposure induces a shift in T helper cell balance, impacting host disease susceptibility.
- Immune responses to lead vary quantitatively and qualitatively across life stages.
- Late gestation appears to be a sensitive period for lead-induced immunotoxicity in animal models.
Conclusions:
- Lead exposure can lead to significant immune dysregulation, particularly during critical developmental periods.
- Understanding life-stage-specific immune susceptibility is crucial for assessing toxicant risks.
- Lead may be a perinatal risk factor for diseases such as childhood asthma.