The challenges ahead in immunotoxicity assessment: An in vitro model of human leukopoiesis

Abstract The science behind immunotoxicology continues to evolve. The goals of this paper are to highlight some of the challenges in immunotoxicity assessment that still need to be addressed. In a general sense, one of the challenges is the ability to translate results to humans. With the exception of pharmaceuticals, it is difficult to conduct studies in humans. As such, a number of in vitro models have been developed, and have been successfully applied to explore the effects of xenobiotics on human cells. In a more specific sense, this paper describes advances in a component of the human immune system that has, heretofore, been understudied – human leukopoiesis.