How Do Toxicants Trigger Overactive Immune Responses?
Toxicants can be environmental, chemical, or biological agents that can induce or worsen an overactive immune response. These substances may act as allergens, causing allergic reactions, or they can be haptens, small molecules that, when combined with proteins, form new antigens that the immune system mistakenly attacks. For instance, certain metals like nickel and chromium are known to cause contact dermatitis due to their hapten-forming ability.
