When you take any xenobiotics, we notice the lack of response to the immune system, where there is no immune response, although it may be toxic sometimes, what is the reason? Does the detoxification system intervene in this situation before immune intervention? Or is the immune system dedicated only to organisms that carry only an antigen?
Most xenobiotics are small molecules and as such do not function as an antigen recognized by the immune system. Nearly all xenobiotics are enzymatically transformed, mainly by the cytochrome P450 system but this does not alter their non-immunogenicity. If such small molecules, however, are bound to proteins as so-called haptens they can evoke the production of antibodies directed against them. In this way antibodies against dioxigenin or the carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene can be obtained, for example.
Peter
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology