ImmunoTox Letter
ImmunoTox Letter DigestJune, 2015

The 22nd Annual Meeting of JSIT 2015
(Japanese Society of Immunotoxicology)
September 10–11, 2015

The 4th Japanese Society ofImmunotoxicology Award(The 2014 JSIT Award)

Kyoto University,
Clock Tower Centennial Hall International Conference
Hall, Kyoto-city, Japan.
http://health.env.kyoto-u.ac.jp/jsit22-office/toiawase.

Immunotoxicity of environmental
substances with special reference toheavy metals : Toxicological properties
and evaluation
一 Through with developing
immunotoxicology ofenvironmental heavy metals

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President:
Prof. Hirohisa Takano,
Kyoto University,
Environmental Health Division,
Department of Environmental Engineering,

Motoyasu Ohsawa1, 2
1

Hatano Research Institute,

Food and Drug Safety Center, Hadano, Japan.
2

Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.

I feel honored that the 4th JSIT Award was given

Graduate School of Engineering
Secretariat:
Akiko Honda,
Kyoto University,
Environmental Health Division,

to me for my research career in environmental

Department of Environmental Engineering,

immunotoxicology, although first I was mystified byGraduate School of Engineering

nomination of an early immunotoxicologist for the Award.

Phone: +81-75-383-3342

My research for immunotoxicology has mainly focused

Fax: +81-75-383-3344

on illustrating the concept for immunotoxicologicalevaluation of environmental substances through with

Deadline for abstract submission: June 26, 2014

experimental immunotoxicology of environmental heavy

The theme for this Meeting: “Revolutionarymetals.

perspectives in the field of Immunotoxicology -Toxic

In the early stage of immunotoxicology, diverse

effects and Disrupting effects”

immunotoxic findings were reported on environmental
chemicals with a variety of testing systems1). For an

Program (Tentative Schedule)

overall assessment of their immunotoxicity, we have

■September 10, 2015 (Thursday)studied on immunotoxicites of heavy metals in the・Educational lecture 1:

environment with special reference to cadmium (Cd).

Dr. Hidenori Ichijo

For evaluating immunotoxicities of environmental(The University of Tokyo,

heavy metals, the animal exposure to the metals

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)is required at environmental levels, via actual route,・Symposium: Toxic effect to Disrupting effectand for the proper long duration. As described in theDr. Takamichi Ichinose

lecture, we reported on oral exposure of mice to Cd at

Dr. Eiko Koike

environmental concentrations in the drinking water for

Dr. Rie Yanagisawa

10 weeks that: 1) immunotoxic alterations were very

Dr. Shinji Fushiki

sensitive to the exposure, 2) acquired and natural immune

Dr. Taisen Iguchi

2)

indicators responded differently, as that the primed
No.1（8） 8

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2015)
particle4), and sensitization of oral food protein aided
・Award lecture:with salitylate5). In these cases environmental substances

・Oral / Poster presentation

including heavy metals act like an adjuvant to cause

・Social gathering:abnormal stimulation overcoming immune regulation.

Kyoto University,

Such immunotoxicity of environmental substances

Clock Tower Centennial Hall International Conference Hall

should be considered further relating to pathogenesis of
autoimmune and allergic diseases.
Our recent life becomes surrounded with more

■September 11, 2015 (Friday)

natural and/or artificial biopolymers that may act as・Special lecture :Dr. Stacey Anderson

immunostimulatory or immunogenic environmental（Team Leader,substances. It may require a new paradigm in

Immunotoxicology and Hazard Identification

immunotoxicology that is left to the next generation oflaboratory

immunotoxicologists.

Allergen and Clinical Immunology Branch,
Health Effects Laboratory Division

References

National Institute for Occupational Safety and1) M. Ohsawa (1993) Prog. Clin. Biol. Res., 380: 283-398.

Health）

2) M. Ohsawa et al. (1988) Clin. Exp. Immunol., 73: 98-102.
3) M. Ohsawa (2009) Yakugaku Zasshi, 129: 305-319.
4) S. Yoshino et al. (1998) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 287:

・Educational lecture 2:679-683.

Dr. Tomohiro Yoshimoto

5) T. Shindo et al. (2012) J. Toxicol. Sci., 37: 307-315.

(Hyogo College of Medicine,
Institute for advanced medical sciences)
・Workshop:
Immunotoxicological Methods

Real Voices of International
Immunotoxicologists

・Oral / Poster presentation
・Awards ceremony
Whatnon-Japanesescientists

think

about

immunotoxicology? What they have experienced and will
antibody response was suppressed but the unprimed

do future. Their comments would allow us to realize theantibody response was non-specifically enhanced

significance of study about immunotoxicology. This time,

including production of autoantibodies like anti-nuclear

we interviewed Dr. Marc Pallardy from University Paris-and anti-dsDNA antibodies, even at less exposure level.

Sud, France. Let’s go to hear his voice. What do you feel

These mean the immunotoxic effect of environmental

and get from it?

substances should be assessed and evaluated differentiallyfor immune regulation and immune defense, which
work appropriately at host situation. Autoantibody

Dr Marc Pallardy

formation and oral tolerance to food allergens are under

Toxicology Department andsuppressive immune regulation. Disturbance of theINSERM UMR 996

immune regulation by environmental substances may

Faculty of Pharmacy

lead to autoimmune and/or allergic manifestations. SomeUniversity Paris-Súd

examples were demonstrated with findings including our92290 Châtenay-Malabry, France

studies such as autoantibody production in autoimmune
nephritis-prone mice enhanced by heavy metals 3),
allergen-specific IgE production promoted with diesel
No.1（9） 9

ImmunoTox Letter
Q1. What was the most impressive event for you in yourcomponents of the immune system most important toaddress, CD8+ cells, NK cells others? Are we able totrip to Japan this time?
There are numerous aspects that were impressive

establish a dose-relationship or to perform quantitative

for me for my first trip to Japan. I have been veryrisk-assessment for this type of risk? What are the effects

impress by how you welcome a guest scientist as me. Theof mixtures of environmental chemicals with genotoxic

organization of my trip, the way you feel respected byand immunosuppressive properties?

your host it quite special of Japan. While travelling in theAllergies due to drugs or environmental chemicals

country, I was also very impressed by the organization,

should also deserve more attention. The mechanisms

the willing of the people to help you if they feel that youof drug allergy have recently benefited from major

are lost and also the respect between people.

breakthrough with the results published on Abacavirinduced toxic epidermolysis. However, we are still lacking

Q2. What is the most exciting thing in your career tosome explanations on drug-induced liver injury due toimmune mechanisms or on how people get immunized

date?
Probably, to have been able to create, finance andmanage a group of scientists since 1990 in the field ofto drugs and how immunized/sensitized people becomeallergic.

Immunotoxicology. Allowing the possibility to students toThe last point is the link between autoimmunity andobtain their PhD with good publications and also to help

exposure to chemicals or following drug treatment. Thesethem to find a job is also a great achievement for me.

questions are very difficult to address and there are not a
lot of support from public bodies. These latter points canQ3. What are the things you are doing energetically,

explain the low activity in this field. Nevertheless, efforts
should be made when we are facing the controversy withright now?
The most energy consuming activity now is to manage
the IMI (Innovativee Medicines Initiative) projectvaccines leading to a tendency for decrease in the rate ofvaccinated people in Europe.

ABIRISK (Anti-Biopharmaceutical Immunization:prediction and analysis of clinical relevance to minimize
the RISK, http://www.abirisk.eu/). This project involves
38 partners from all Europe and aims at understanding
how patients get immunized to therapeutic proteins(antibodies…) with the consequence of a loss of clinicalresponse. This project aims also to optimize themonitoring of patients by closely monitoring anti-drug
antibody.
Q4. Whatisrequiredfor

break throughinimmunotoxicology research in the future, do youthink?
Immunotoxicology is still an evolving field. All theaspects of immunotoxicology such as immunosuppression,
hypersensitivity, autoimmunity and inappropriate
stimulation of the immune system show intensive
research activity. However, there are several aspects thatneed specific attention.
Thelinkbetween

immunosuppression/

immunomodulation induced by chemicals and the riskof cancer is a matter of great importance. What are theNo.1（10） 10