Applied Toxicology: Approaches Through Basic Science

Ultraviolet radiation, a component of sunlight, has been recognized by photobiologists, dermatologists, and oculists as a potential hazard for human health because of its genotoxic, carcinogenic and immunotoxic properties. Its effects on human health include the induction of skin cancers, ocular damage and impairment of immunity to certain infections. A few decennia ago it was demonstrated that UV photons can affect the activity of the immune system through interactions with the skin. This means that UV not only changes normal cells into cancer cells but also permits the outgrowth of the UV -transformed cells by depressing the immune system. An intriguing question is what interactions between UV radiation and the skin initiates alterations in immune function in the exposed skin and systemically, i. e. in other places than the exposed skin. During the last 20 years many studies have been performed in order to investigate the immunosuppressive activities of UVB in laboratory animals and in human volunteers. In particular effects of UVB radiation on resistance to tumours and skin associated infections have been examined. In addition, effects of UVB radiation on immune parameters such as contact hypersensitivity and delayed-type hypersensitivity (both type IV hypersensitivity reactions), mixed lymphocyte reactions, mixed skin lymphocyte reactions, antigen presentation and numbers and function of Langerhans cells have been studied intensively. The antigenicity of murine tumours which are caused by UVB radiation was one of the first items to be investigated (Kripke, 1974).

This volume contains the main papers presented at the 1996 EUROTOX congress, Alicante, Spain, September 22-25,1996. The understanding of toxicological events, such as the Spanish Toxic Oil Syndrome, or of intoxications by algal toxins draws heavily on the knowledge obtained from basic science. This is clearly reflected in the topics of Symposia and Workshops that deal with alterations in gene expression and immunotoxicity, prediction of individual susceptibility to toxicants, mechanisms of phototoxicity, protein targets of neurotoxicity, as well as mechanisms of carcinogenesis in transgenic mice. The application of basic science then allows better evaluation of the role of air pollution in allergy or a better assessment of progress in antidotic therapy. A pivotal role is fulfilled here by methodological aspects of the detection of changes in gene expression, challenges in analytical toxicology, or the development of in vitro models for the study of molecular mechanisms of toxicity.