Abstract
Environmental influences, either social or physical, can affect any aspect of human health, from disease onset (accumulating in their effects throughout life span) to disease progression and survival. There is evidence suggesting that behavior, nutrients, and pollutants are environmental factors altering the immune-metabolism response and affecting the relationship between the commensal microbiota and its human host, contributing to the increasing incidence of allergic and autoimmune diseases. This chapter focuses on presenting the key research findings describing the regulation of immune response and the crosstalk between the environment and the immune and the metabolic systems. We highlight human epidemiological data and animal studies that suggest that endocrine-disrupting chemicals’ (EDCs’) exposure can affect immune cells by acting on development, cellular, and humoral response. Finally, we examine the impact of nutritional status and microbiota on innate and adaptive immune response.
References
Alwarawrah Y, Kiernan K, MacIver NJ. Changes in nutritional status impact immune cell metabolism and function. Front Immunol. 2018;9:1055.
Bachem A, Makhlouf C, Binger KJ, de Souza DP, Tull D, Hochheiser K, Whitney PG, Fernandez-Ruiz D, Dähling S, Kastenmüller W, et al. Microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids promote the memory potential of antigen-activated CD8(+) T cells. Immunity. 2019;51:285–297.e285.
Balistrieri A, Hobohm L, Srivastava T, Meier A, Corriden R. Alterations in human neutrophil function caused by bisphenol A. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2018;315:C636–c642.
Brown S, Boules M, Hamza N, Wang X, Whalen M. Synthesis of interleukin 1 beta and interleukin 6 in human lymphocytes is stimulated by tributyltin. Arch Toxicol. 2018;92:2573–86.
Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients. 2017;9:211.
Cetkovic-Cvrlje M, Thinamany S, Bruner KA. Bisphenol A (BPA) aggravates multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in C57BL/6 mice. J Immunotoxicol. 2017;14:160–8.
Chalubinski M, Kowalski ML. Endocrine disrupters – potential modulators of the immune system and allergic response. Allergy. 2006;61:1326–35.
Cinkajzlová A, Mráz M, HaluzĂk M. Lymphocytes and macrophages in adipose tissue in obesity: markers or makers of subclinical inflammation? Protoplasma. 2017;254:1219–32.
Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Bourguignon JP, Giudice LC, Hauser R, Prins GS, Soto AM, Zoeller RT, Gore AC. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: an Endocrine Society scientific statement. Endocr Rev. 2009;30:293–342.
Dudimah FD, Odman-Ghazi SO, Hatcher F, Whalen MM. Effect of tributyltin (TBT) on ATP levels in human natural killer (NK) cells: relationship to TBT-induced decreases in NK function. Journal of Applied Toxicology. 2007;27:86–94.
Erturk-Hasdemir D, Oh SF, Okan NA, Stefanetti G, Gazzaniga FS, Seeberger PH, Plevy SE, Kasper DL. Symbionts exploit complex signaling to educate the immune system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116:26157–66.
Feng Y, Tian J, Xie HQ, She J, Xu SL, Xu T, Tian W, Fu H, Li S, Tao W, et al. Effects of acute low-dose exposure to the chlorinated flame retardant Dechlorane 602 and Th1 and Th2 immune responses in adult male mice. Environ Health Perspect. 2016;124:1406–13.
Gálvez EJC, Iljazovic A, Gronow A, Flavell R, Strowig T. Shaping of intestinal microbiota in Nlrp6- and Rag2-deficient mice depends on community structure. Cell Rep. 2017;21:3914–26.
Gammoh NZ, Rink L. Zinc in infection and inflammation. Nutrients. 2017;9:624.
Ganal-Vonarburg SC, Fuhrer T, Gomez de Agüero M. Maternal microbiota and antibodies as advocates of neonatal health. Gut Microbes. 2017;8:479–85.
Gombart AF, Pierre A, Maggini S. A review of micronutrients and the immune system-working in harmony to reduce the risk of infection. Nutrients. 2020;12(1):236
Hajam IA, Dar PA, Shahnawaz I, Jaume JC, Lee JH. Bacterial flagellin-a potent immunomodulatory agent. Exp Mol Med. 2017;49:e373.
Hansen NW, Sams A. The microbiotic highway to health-new perspective on food structure, gut microbiota, and host inflammation. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1590
Hasenmajer V, Sbardella E, Sciarra F, Minnetti M, Isidori AM, Venneri MA. The immune system in Cushing’s syndrome. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2020;31:655–69.
Kato T, Uchikawa R, Yamada M, Arizono N, Oikawa S, Kawanishi S, Nishio A, Nakase H, Kuribayashi K. Environmental pollutant tributyltin promotes Th2 polarization and exacerbates airway inflammation. Eur J Immunol. 2004;34:1312–21.
Kiewiet MBG, Faas MM, de Vos P. Immunomodulatory protein hydrolysates and their application. Nutrients. 2018;10(7):904.
Kuo CH, Yang SN, Kuo PL, Hung CH. Immunomodulatory effects of environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2012;28:S37–42.
Lee JW, Han HK, Park S, Moon EY. Nonylphenol increases tumor formation and growth by suppressing gender-independent lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage activation. Environ Toxicol. 2017;32:1679–87.
Lee YK, Mehrabian P, Boyajian S, Wu WL, Selicha J, Vonderfecht S, Mazmanian SK. The protective role of Bacteroides fragilis in a murine model of colitis-associated colorectal Cancer mSphere 2018;3(6):e00587–18.
Minnetti M, Hasenmajer V, Pofi R, Venneri MA, Alexandraki KI, Isidori AM. Fixing the broken clock in adrenal disorders: focus on glucocorticoids and chronotherapy. J Endocrinol. 2020;246:R13–r31.
Mortezaee K, Potes Y, Mirtavoos-Mahyari H, Motevaseli E, Shabeeb D, Musa AE, Najafi M, Farhood B. Boosting immune system against cancer by melatonin: a mechanistic viewpoint. Life Sci. 2019;238:116960.
Nájera O, González C, Toledo G, López L, Ortiz R. Flow cytometry study of lymphocyte subsets in malnourished and well-nourished children with bacterial infections. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2004;11:577–80.
Nowak K, Jabłońska E, Ratajczak-Wrona W. Immunomodulatory effects of synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals on the development and functions of human immune cells. Environ Int. 2019;125:350–64.
Omenetti S, Bussi C, Metidji A, Iseppon A, Lee S, Tolaini M, Li Y, Kelly G, Chakravarty P, Shoaie S, et al. The intestine harbors functionally distinct homeostatic tissue-resident and inflammatory Th17 cells. Immunity. 2019;51:77–89.e76.
Ratajczak-Wrona W, Nowak K, Garley M, Tynecka M, Jablonska E. Sex-specific differences in the regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase by bisphenol A in neutrophils. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2019;38:239–46.
Ratsimandresy RA, Indramohan M, Dorfleutner A, Stehlik C. The AIM2 inflammasome is a central regulator of intestinal homeostasis through the IL-18/IL-22/STAT3 pathway. Cell Mol Immunol. 2017;14:127–42.
Reeh H, Rudolph N, Billing U, Christen H, Streif S, Bullinger E, Schliemann-Bullinger M, Findeisen R, Schaper F, Huber HJ, et al. Response to IL-6 trans- and IL-6 classic signalling is determined by the ratio of the IL-6 receptor α to gp130 expression: fusing experimental insights and dynamic modelling. Cell Communication and Signaling: CCS. 2019;17:46.
Santiago-LĂłpez L, Hernández-Mendoza A, Mata-Haro V, Vallejo-CĂłrdoba B, Wall-Medrano A, Astiazarán-GarcĂa H, Estrada-Montoya MDC, González-CĂłrdova AF. Effect of milk fermented with lactobacillus fermentum on the inflammatory response in mice. Nutrients. 2018;10:E1039.
Savino W, Dardenne M, Velloso LA, Dayse Silva-Barbosa S. The thymus is a common target in malnutrition and infection. Br J Nutr. 2007;98(Suppl 1):S11–6.
Sciarra F, Franceschini E, Campolo F, Gianfrilli D, Pallotti F, Paoli D, Isidori AM, Venneri MA. Disruption of circadian rhythms: a crucial factor in the etiology of infertility. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21:3943.
Semenkovich NP, Planer JD, Ahern PP, Griffin NW, Lin CY, Gordon JI. Impact of the gut microbiota on enhancer accessibility in gut intraepithelial lymphocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016;113:14805–10.
Shah AM, Wang Z, Ma J. Glutamine metabolism and its role in immunity, a comprehensive review. Animals. 2020;10:326.
Smart JM, Kemp AS. Increased Th1 and Th2 allergen-induced cytokine responses in children with atopic disease. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. 2002;32:796–802.
Smit EE, Sra SK, Grabowski LR, Ward SL, Trocme SD. Modulation of IL-8 and RANTES release in human conjunctival epithelial cells: primary cells and cell line compared and contrasted. Cornea. 2003;22:332–7.
Srikakulapu P, McNamara CA. B lymphocytes and adipose tissue inflammation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2020;40:1110–22.
Švajger U, Dolenc MS, Jeras M. In vitro impact of bisphenols BPA, BPF, BPAF and 17β-estradiol (E2) on human monocyte-derived dendritic cell generation, maturation and function. Int Immunopharmacol. 2016;34:146–54.
Takahashi JS. Transcriptional architecture of the mammalian circadian clock. Nat Rev Genet. 2017;18:164–79.
Ustyugova IV, Frost LL, Van Dyke K, Brundage KM, Schafer R, Barnett JB. 3,4-dichloropropionaniline suppresses normal macrophage function. Toxicological Sciences. 2007;97:364–74.
Weatherly LM, Nelson AJ, Shim J, Riitano AM, Gerson ED, Hart AJ, de Juan-Sanz J, Ryan TA, Sher R, Hess ST, et al. Antimicrobial agent triclosan disrupts mitochondrial structure, revealed by super-resolution microscopy, and inhibits mast cell signaling via calcium modulation. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2018;349:39–54.
Weyh C, KrĂĽger K, Strasser B. Physical activity and diet shape the immune system during aging. Nutrients. 2020;12
Wu K, Yuan Y, Yu H, Dai X, Wang S, Sun Z, Wang F, Fei H, Lin Q, Jiang H, et al. Gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide aggravates GVHD by inducing M1 macrophage polarization in mice. Blood. 2020;136(4):501–515.
Yang SN, Hsieh CC, Kuo HF, Lee MS, Huang MY, Kuo CH, Hung CH. The effects of environmental toxins on allergic inflammation. Allergy, Asthma Immunol Res. 2014;6:478–84.
You H, Chen S, Mao L, Li B, Yuan Y, Li R, Yang X. The adjuvant effect induced by di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is mediated through oxidative stress in a mouse model of asthma. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2014;71:272–81.
Żelechowska P, Brzezińska-Błaszczyk E, Kusowska A, Kozłowska E. The role of adipokines in the modulation of lymphoid lineage cell development and activity: an overview. Obesity Reviews. 2020;21(10):e13055.
Zheng D, Liwinski T, Elinav E. Interaction between microbiota and immunity in health and disease. Cell Res. 2020;30:492–506.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Isidori, A.M., Hasenmajer, V., Sciarra, F., Venneri, M.A. (2023). Environmental Impact on Immune System. In: Pivonello, R., Diamanti-Kandarakis, E. (eds) Environmental Endocrinology and Endocrine Disruptors . Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39044-0_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39044-0_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-39043-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-39044-0
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine