ALLERGIC AND AUTOIMMUNE REACTIONS TO XENOBIOTICS - HOW DO THEY ARISE

Induction of allergic and autoimmune reactions by drugs and other chem icals constitutes a major public health problem. Elucidation of the un derlying mechanisms might help improve diagnostic tools and therapeuti c approaches. Here, Peter Griem and colleagues focus on several aspect s of neoantigen formation by xenobiotics: metabolism of xenobiotics in to reactive, haptenic metabolites; polymorphisms of metabolizing enzym es; induction of costimulatory signals; and sensitization of T cells.