康奈尔大学的研究人员发现，胎儿在子宫中或是婴儿暴露于环境毒素或药物，所造成的后天疾病，有共同的免疫模式。
在这篇发表于Current Medicinal Chemistry中的研究报告里，康奈尔大学兽医系的教授Rodney Dietert，和Performance Plus Consulting 的Janice Dietert，发现所有与发育免疫毒性有关的慢性疾病，都与相同的类型的免疫损伤有关。
这些与发育免疫毒性有关的疾病包括哮喘、过敏、对疫苗抑制反应、对感染的易感性增加、儿童的神经行为疾病、自体免疫疾病、癌症、脑性痲痹、动脉粥样硬化、高血压和男性不孕症。
他们发现大部分的疾病有二个现象是一样的：与不平衡的免疫系统有关，以及过大的发炎反应(细胞层级)。
当胎儿或婴儿受到发育免疫毒性影响时，二种免疫过程：T 帮手(Th) 细胞的平衡和树状细胞成熟性，都会受到破坏而扰乱发炎细胞的功能之调控，导致过大的发炎反应。
（编译/姜欣慧） (资料来源 : biocompare)
英文原文链接：
http://news.biocompare.com/newsstory.asp?id=181070
原始出处：
Early-Life Immune Insult and Developmental Immunotoxicity (DIT)-Associated Diseases: Potential of Herbal- and Fungal-Derived Medicinals
Authors: Dietert, Rodney R.1; Dietert, Janice M.1
Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 14, Number 10, April 2007, pp. 1075-1085(11)
Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers
Abstract:
Developmental immunotoxicity (DIT) is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor contributing to later life immune dysfunction as well chronic disease. In fact, recent increases in the incidence of asthma, allergic disease, autoimmunity and childhood infections maybe linked to problematic early life environmental exposures. The immune system of the non-adult is particularly susceptible to environmental influences whether from prenatal exposure to environmental toxins, maternallyadministered drugs, infections or from postnatal exposure to toxicants, infectious agents and allergens. Additionally, adultexposure models of immunotoxicity have been largely ineffective in predicting DIT risk. DIT-induced immune dysfunction can take many forms depending upon the environmental factor(s) involved and the precise developmental timing of exposure. If one examines the spectrum of published studies, a predominant phenotype has emerged that includes: Th balance skewing toward Th2, suppression of Th1 function, regulatory T cell function alteration, T cell repertoire abnormalities, problematic regulation of inflammatory cell function leading to hyperinflammatory responses and perturbation of cytokine networks. Early-life immune insult can also result in damage to the neurological and cardiovascular systems as well as endocrine and reproductive organs. Most therapeutic approaches to date have addressed the disease outcomes of DIT (e.g. asthma, allergy, autoimmunity, infections, and cancer) rather than focusing on the underlying immune dysfunction that creates the increased disease risk. While identification and prevention of problematic early life exposures is the best protection against DIT, this is not always possible. Therefore, identification of potential therapeutic approaches to reverse the immune dysfunction in the juvenile or adult is needed. In this review, we consider potential phytotherapeutic candidates among herbal- and fungal-derived medicinals for possible postnatal correction of the most predominant DIT-induced immune problems.
Keywords: Developmental immunotoxicity (DIT); immunosuppression; chronic disease; phytotherapy; herbal; asthma; allergy; autoimmunity
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.2174/092986707780362899
Affiliations: 1: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, C5-135 VMC, Cornell University,Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.
