Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Humoral Immune Responses01:36

Humoral Immune Responses

Overview
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements01:27

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements00:57

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally-occurring, and fewer still are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.The Periodic Table Provides Information about...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Patient-derived tissue slice cultures from endoscopic biopsies as a translational ex vivo model for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Clinical and experimental medicine·2026
Same author

PPARγ controls I3C-mediated anti-inflammatory effects through the NF-κB/IL-6 pathway on gut inflammation models.

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie·2026
Same author

Endothelial dysfunction and metabolic biomarkers in post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Proteomic profiling links increased mast cell activity in regenerating callus to impaired scaffold-guided bone regeneration in diabetic rats.

Bone·2026
Same author

Gestational Polyphenol Levels and Risk of Atopic and Respiratory Outcomes in Early-Life: Insights From the LiNA Study.

Allergy·2026
Same author

Dysregulated Protease Homeostasis Defines Primary FSGS.

Kidney360·2026
Same journal

Zinc Fingers.

Metal ions in life sciences·2020
Same journal

Nickel, Iron, Sulfur Sites.

Metal ions in life sciences·2020
Same journal

The Siroheme-[4Fe-4S] Coupled Center.

Metal ions in life sciences·2020
Same journal

Molybdenum and Tungsten Cofactors and the Reactions They Catalyze.

Metal ions in life sciences·2020
Same journal

The Cofactors of Nitrogenases.

Metal ions in life sciences·2020
Same journal

Basic Iron-Sulfur Centers.

Metal ions in life sciences·2020
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
11:04

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Published on: September 7, 2019

Metal ions affecting the immune system.

Irina Lehmann1, Ulrich Sack, Jörg Lehmann

  • 1Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany. irina.lehmann@ufz.de

Metal Ions in Life Sciences
|April 9, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Heavy metals can disrupt immune cell function, leading to either weakened immunity or overstimulation. This immune dysregulation increases susceptibility to infections and contributes to diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders.

More Related Videos

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
13:04

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells

Published on: May 16, 2019

Quantification of Metal Leaching in Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography
05:35

Quantification of Metal Leaching in Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography

Published on: January 17, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
11:04

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Published on: September 7, 2019

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
13:04

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells

Published on: May 16, 2019

Quantification of Metal Leaching in Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography
05:35

Quantification of Metal Leaching in Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography

Published on: January 17, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Toxicology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Heavy metals are known environmental contaminants.
  • Exposure to heavy metals can adversely impact human health.
  • The immune system plays a critical role in host defense.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effects of heavy metals on immune system function.
  • To explore the mechanisms by which heavy metals alter immune responses.
  • To highlight the health consequences of heavy metal-induced immune dysregulation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on heavy metal exposure and immune function.
  • Analysis of reported alterations in immune cell mechanisms.
  • Correlation of immune dysregulation with specific health outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Heavy metals can cause either immunosuppression or immune stimulation.
  • Altered immune cell function can impair host defense against pathogens.
  • Immune overstimulation is linked to chronic inflammation, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Heavy metal exposure poses a significant risk to immune system integrity.
  • Immune dysregulation by heavy metals contributes to a range of adverse health effects.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for public health and environmental safety.