TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 12. Toxic Responses of the Immune System A1 - Kaminski, Norbert E. A1 - Faubert Kaplan, Barbara L. A1 - Holsapple, Michael P. A2 - Klaassen, Curtis D. A2 - Watkins, John B. PY - 2010 T2 - Casarett & Doull's Essentials of Toxicology, 2e AB - Immunity is a series of delicately balanced, complex, multicellular, and physiologic mechanisms that allow an individual to distinguish foreign material from “self” and to neutralize and/or eliminate that foreign matter.Innate immunity, which eliminates most potential pathogens before significant infection occurs, includes physical and biochemical barriers both inside and outside of the body as well as immune cells designed for specific responses.Acquired immunity involves producing a specific immune response to each infectious agent (specificity) and remembering that agent so as to mount a faster response to a future infection by the same agent (memory).Autoimmunity occurs when the reactions of the immune system are directed against the body's own tissues, resulting in tissue damage and disease.Hypersensitivity reactions require prior exposure leading to sensitization in order to elicit a reaction on subsequent challenge.Xenobiotics that alter the immune system can upset the balance between immune recognition and destruction of foreign invaders and the proliferation of these microbes and/or cancer cells. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6482148 ER -