Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Immunotoxin
An immunotoxin is a chemical that can cause immune system malfunction with exposure. When immune system is function is suppressed (immunosuppression) there is an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and cancers. Polychlorinated-biphenyls (PCB), asbestos and herbicide DDT are known immunosuppressants. Immunotoxins can also cause autoimmune disease, where an overactive immune system attacks the bodies cells.
Theaputic immunotoxins are compounds that are being developed for cancer and virus treatment. These immunotoxins are chimeric proteins that are linked to a toxin. The protein is a modified antibody that targets a specific cell type, when it binds to that cell it is taken in and the toxin kills the cell.
Last updated: 06-03-2005 06:13:36
03-10-2013 05:06:04
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details