Environment and Autoimmunity: Facts and Gaps
Autoimmune diseases are comprehensive models of complex conditions in which an individual’s genetic susceptibility is necessary but not sufficient to explain disease onset, perpetuation, and severity. This is well represented by the variable but invariabl
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Environmental Influences on the Immune System
Environmental Influences on the Immune System
Charlotte Esser Editor
Environmental Influences on the Immune System
Editor Charlotte Esser IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine at the Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
ISBN 978-3-7091-1888-7 ISBN 978-3-7091-1890-0 DOI 10.1007/978-3-7091-1890-0
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015958356 Springer Vienna Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer-Verlag Wien 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer-Verlag GmbH Wien is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
To my mother and father
Preface
The poetry of earth is never dead. John Keats (1795–1821) Environment (\in-ˈvī-rə(n)-mənt) is a noun that refers to the sum of physical, chemical, and biological factors that act upon an organism or an ecological community, but can also refer to all social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community. Thus, the environment comprises factors as diverging as climate, microbes, lifestyle, stress, diet, sun exposure, chemical pollution, and much more. Ultimately, the environment determines how we can live. The term “immune system” appeared first in the early twentieth century and describes the many interacting and specialized body functions that protect from disease and infections. The immune system has evolved as the response of animals against bacteria, viruses, and fungi and it is most highly developed in vertebrate animals. It also serves to detect and eliminate cancer cells and contributes to epithelial integrity, thus protecting our barriers to the environment. Without our immune system, we cannot survive. Manipulating the immune status by vaccination and drugs and dietary compounds and supporting immune competence by hygiene measurements have saved countless human lives. Looking at the interaction and communication of the
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