Immunotoxicology of Food borne Substances: An Overview

The current status of research concerning immunotoxicology of foodborne substances is discussed. Several food additives and bacterial toxins interact directly with cells involved in the immune response and could interfere with natural immunoregulation in the gut. Specialized antibodies produced locally in the gastrointestinal tract help facilitate enzymatic degradation of the substances with which they react by retaining them along the mucous lining; this process is known as immune exclusion. Interference with local production of intestinal antibodies could lead to loss of local immunity and immune exclusion of large, potentially immunogenic proteins. Consequences of chemically induced loss of immune exclusion could include increase in incidence of autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal allergies, toxigenic diarrheas, and pathogenic invasion through the gut wall. The need for more research is apparent.