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Immunotoxicology of Metals

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Book cover Toxicology of Metals

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 115))

Abstract

Numerous metals are responsible for immunologically mediated disorders in humans (Table 1). One of the most common is contact dermatitis, which is probably due, to delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Thus, chromium salts, nickel, cobalt, beryllium, mercury, gold salts, and platinum salts may induce contact dermatitis. For example, a study of patients suffering from contact dermatitis has found that 13% showed a positive patch test to nickel salts, 8% to potassium dichromate, and 5% to mercurials (BUehler 1983). Other manifestations may be observed. Thus, in fluorescent lamp workers beryllium may induce a chronic pulmonary granulomatosis, so-called berylliosis (REeves 1983). It has been suggested that this affection is autoimmune due to an immune response to an autoantigen modified by beryllium. It is of interest to note that hypersensitivity reactions to beryllium are found in patients with contact dermatitis but are often absent in patients with severe berylliosis. Besides toxic effects on the kidney and the central nervous system, mercurials may induce immunologically mediated glomerulopathies (FIllastre et al. 1988). Histologically, this type of glomerulopathy can be membranous glomerulopathy (MG), showing granular IgG deposits with immunofluorescence, or a minimal glomerular change disease thought to be mediated by T lymphocytes. In some cases, immunoglobulins were found linearly deposited along the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and were either associated or not associated with granular IgG deposits (LIndqvist et al. 1974; FIllastre et al. 1988).

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Pelletier, L., Druet, P. (1995). Immunotoxicology of Metals. In: Goyer, R.A., Cherian, M.G. (eds) Toxicology of Metals. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 115. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79162-8_4

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