Metals and the Immune System

This work considers the interaction of metals with the immune system and the inflammatory response. At a basic level virtually any aspect of a biological system that is examined will be dependent on one or more metal ions. Conversely, many metals are potent toxins to biological systems. An introduction to key features of the immune system is given and the biochemical and immunological mechanisms that create this apparent contradiction are reviewed. Relevant techniques are also discussed. The book should be of interest to immunologists, clinicians and environmental health specialists.