A perspective on the progression of immunotoxicology.
Immunotoxicology originated in the early 1970s, when scientists began investigating chemicals. During the 1970s and early 1980s, a few investigators determined that chemicals were immunotoxic, developed and/or refined immunoassays, and began to characterize immunotoxic responses. In the 1980s, many new investigators entered the field, graduates were being trained as immunotoxicologists, the immune system was identified as a primary target organ, mechanisms of action studies proliferated, a comprehensive immunotoxicological panel was validated, the discipline gained universal credibility, and human studies emerged. The 1990s were ushered in with the concept of biological markers in immunotoxicology, a better understanding of "immune function", inclusion of immunotoxicology in risk assessment analysis, and a focus on molecular immunology. Future investigations will continue to improve and expand this foundation, pursue the relationship of immunotoxic chemicals and adverse health effects in humans, utilize genetically altered rodent models, and use gene expression technology to better understand the pathogenesis of immunotoxicological processes. Immunotoxicology has not only matured since its inception nearly 30 yr ago, but has become a prominent and respected discipline with global recognition; one that has made significant contributions to the advancement of the biomedical sciences.