Modulation of T Cell Immune Responses by Environmental Pollutants

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Background

Environmental pollution is increasing worldwide. Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions, such as respiratory and allergic symptoms. It has also been linked to the prevalence of chronic diseases, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. Although in most cases the underling mechanisms have not been elucidated, it is clear that alterations at the level of the immune system take place. Whereas the impact of environmental factors on the innate immune responses has been intensively investigated, the effect at the level of adaptive immune responses, such as T cell activation, is not well understood. A disrupted T cell function may be responsible for incomplete adaptive immune responses, failing to induce a long lasting protection to pathogens.

The nature of environmental pollutants is broad, including chemicals (organic solvents, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers), Particulate Matter (PM), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Microplastics, Ozone, NO2, Radiation and others. A wide range of data is available for air pollution showing, for example, that PM alters T-cell responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis by decreasing the surface expression of early T cell activation markers and by inhibiting the bacteria-induced intracellular expression of inflammatory cytokines. Thus, PM exposures in highly air polluted environments may also adversely affect the efficacy of TB vaccines designed to induce T-cell-mediated immune responses. In contrast , there is very little data available describing T cell modulatory effects of pesticides. Pesticides ingested via contaminated food may disturb the balance between commensal and pathogenic bacteria, thereby leading to misguided T cell responses and the development of chronic bowel diseases. Moreover, considering that commensal microbiota are potent modulators of immune responses, we would expect the immune effects of pesticide (or other chemicals)-dysregulated microbiota to be local and also systemic. Finally, investigating the impact of environmental pollutants on T cell responses to bacteria and viruses will enable us to understand the underlying mechanism, which is important for improved efficacy of new vaccines.

In this Research Topic we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of current research on the modulation of adaptive immune responses, especially T cell responses, by environmental factors such as pollutants. We welcome Original Research and Reviews covering, but not limited to, the following subtopics:

• How and which environmental pollutants impact adaptive immune responses in general
• How T cell responses to viruses and bacteria are modulated by environmental pollutants
• Environmental pollution in population-based studies covering early life exposure trough aging
• Molecular basis of environmental pollutant-based modulation of T cell function

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