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Lee JY, Choi YH, Choi HI, Moon KW. Association between environmental mercury exposure and allergic disorders in Korean children: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycles 3-4 (2015-2020). Sci Rep 2024; 14:1472. [PMID: 38233475 PMCID: PMC10794242 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51811-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Although previous studies have suggested potential adverse effects of mercury on a child's immune system, the associations have been inconsistent. We aimed to determine the association between urinary mercury levels and allergic diseases in Korean children with high mercury exposure. Data from 853 and 710 children aged 6-11 years in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3 (2015-2017) and cycle 4 (2018-2020) were analyzed. We examined the association between mercury exposure and the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and allergic multimorbidity. After adjusting for all covariates, the urinary mercury level was positively associated with AD in the 2015-2017 study (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.79) and AR in 2018-2020 study (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.01, 2.10). Pooled effects showed OR of 1.34 (95% CI = 1.01, 1.79) for AD and 1.47 (95% CI = 1.01, 2.12) for allergic multimorbidity. The association with allergic multimorbidity was greater in boys (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.01, 3.49) than in girls (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.73, 2.14). These results suggest that environmental mercury exposure may exacerbate symptoms of atopic dermatitis and allergic multimorbidity in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Youn Lee
- School of Health and Environmental Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Yun-Hee Choi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Hyeon-Il Choi
- Department of Infection Biology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Munhwa-ro 266, Jung-gu, Daejeon, 35015, South Korea.
| | - Kyong Whan Moon
- School of Health and Environmental Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
- BK21 FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health System, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
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2
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Tang M, Zhao Y, Zhai Y, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Liu T, Wu J, He L, Yao Y, Xue P, He M, Xu Y, Feng S, Qu W, Zhang Y. Mercury chloride activates the IFNγ-IRF1 signaling in myeloid progenitors and promotes monopoiesis in mice. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122583. [PMID: 37741541 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Inorganic mercury (Hg2+) is a highly toxic heavy metal in the environment. To date, the impacts of Hg2+ on the development of monocytes, or monopoiesis, have not been fully addressed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of Hg2+ on monopoiesis. In this study, we treated B10.S mice and DBA/2 mice with 10 μM or 50 μM HgCl2 via drinking water for 4 wk, and we then evaluated the development of monocytes. Treatment with 50 μM HgCl2, but not 10 μM HgCl2, increased the number of monocytes in the blood, spleen and bone marrow (BM) of B10.S mice. Accordingly, treatment with 50 μM HgCl2, but not 10 μM HgCl2, increased the number of common myeloid progenitors (CMP) and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (GMP) in the BM. Functional analyses indicated that treatment with 50 μM HgCl2 promoted the differentiation of CMP and GMP to monocytes in the BM of B10.S mice. Mechanistically, treatment with 50 μM HgCl2 induced the production of IFNγ, which activated the Jak1/3-STAT1/3-IRF1 signaling in CMP and GMP and enhanced their differentiation potential for monocytes in the BM, thus likely leading to increased number of mature monocytes in B10.S mice. Moreover, the increased monopoiesis by Hg2+ was associated with the increased inflammatory status in B10.S mice. In contrast, treatment with 50 μM HgCl2 did not impact the monopoiesis in DBA/2 mice. Our study reveals the impact of Hg on the development of monocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Tang
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yifan Zhao
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue Zhai
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yufan Zhang
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yalin Liu
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ting Liu
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wu
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Leyi He
- China Medical University-The Queen's University of Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110121, China
| | - Ye Yao
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Peng Xue
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Miao He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yanyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shaoqing Feng
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Weidong Qu
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yubin Zhang
- School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, MOE, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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3
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Carruthers NJ, Guo C, Gill R, Stemmer PM, Rosenspire AJ. Mercury intoxication disrupts tonic signaling in B cells, and may promote autoimmunity due to abnormal phosphorylation of STIM-1 and other autoimmunity risk associated phosphoproteins involved in BCR signaling. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 474:116607. [PMID: 37348680 PMCID: PMC10534200 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies link exposure to mercury with autoimmune disease. Unfortunately, in spite of considerable effort, no generally accepted mechanistic understanding of how mercury functions with respect to the etiology of autoimmune disease is currently available. Nevertheless, autoimmune disease often arises because of defective B cell signaling. Because B cell signaling is dependent on phosphorylation cascades, in this report, we have focused on how mercury intoxication alters phosphorylation of B cell proteins in antigen-non stimulated (tonic) mouse (BALB/c) splenic B cells. Specifically, we utilized mass spectrometric techniques to conduct a comprehensive unbiased global analysis of the effect of inorganic mercury (Hg2+) on the entire B cell phosphoproteome. We found that the effects were pleotropic in the sense that large numbers of pathways were impacted. However, confirming our earlier work, we found that the B cell signaling pathway stood out from the rest, in that phosphoproteins which had sites which were affected by Hg2+, exhibited a much higher degree of connectivity, than components of other pathways. Further analysis showed that many of these BCR pathway proteins had been previously linked to autoimmune disease. Finally, dose response analysis of these BCR pathway proteins showed STIM1_S575, and NFAT2_S259 are the two most Hg2+ sensitive of these sites. Because STIM1_S575 controls the ability of STIM1 to regulate internal Ca2+, we speculate that STIM1 may be the initial point of disruption, where Hg2+ interferes with B cell signaling leading to systemic autoimmunity, with the molecular effects pleiotropically propagated throughout the cell by virtue of Ca2+ dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- N J Carruthers
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - C Guo
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - R Gill
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - P M Stemmer
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - A J Rosenspire
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America.
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4
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Guo C, Mattingly RR, Stemmer PM, Rosenspire AJ. At low levels, inorganic mercury interference with antigen signaling is associated with modifications to a panel of novel phosphoserine sites in B cell receptor pathway proteins. Toxicol In Vitro 2023; 89:105564. [PMID: 36736710 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2023.105564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies indicate that human and animal exposure to environmental mercury (Hg) disrupts normal immune system function, but the molecular mechanism responsible for this is still unresolved. We have previously utilized phospho-proteomic mass spectrometry to demonstrate that in the absence of B Cell Receptor (BCR) stimulation, exposure of B cells to Hg induces significant changes to a great many elements of the BCR signaling pathway in a concentration dependent manner. In this report, we have extended those initial findings by utilizing mass spectrometry to evaluate in detail the effect of low-level Hg exposure on BCR induced phospho-proteomic changes. Specifically, murine WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells were exposed to environmentally relevant levels of Hg with or without concomitant BCR stimulation. The cellular phospho-proteomes were then profiled by LC-MS/MS. We found that for low-level exposures, Hg interference with signal transduction across the BCR pathway was predominantly associated with modification of phosphorylation of 12 phosphosites located on seven different proteins. Nine sites were serine, two sites tyrosine and one site threonine. Most of these sites are novel, in the sense that only the two tyrosine and one of the serine sites have previously been reported to be associated with BCR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunna Guo
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Raymond R Mattingly
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Paul M Stemmer
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Allen J Rosenspire
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
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5
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Immunomodulation, Toxicity, and Therapeutic Potential of Nanoparticles. BIOTECH 2022; 11:biotech11030042. [PMID: 36134916 PMCID: PMC9497228 DOI: 10.3390/biotech11030042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered immune responses associated with human disease conditions, such as inflammatory and infectious diseases, cancers, and autoimmune diseases, are among the primary causes of morbidity across the world. A wealth of studies has demonstrated the efficiency of nanoparticles (NPs)-based immunotherapy strategies in different laboratory model systems. Nanoscale dimensions (<100 nm) enable NPs to have increased surface area to volume ratio, surface charge, and reactivity. Physicochemical properties along with the shapes, sizes, and elasticity influence the immunomodulatory response induced by NPs. In recent years, NPs-based immunotherapy strategies have attained significant focus in the context of cancers and autoimmune diseases. This rapidly growing field of nanomedicine has already introduced ~50 nanotherapeutics in clinical practices. Parallel to wide industrial applications of NPs, studies have raised concerns about their potential threat to the environment and human health. In past decades, a wealth of in vivo and in vitro studies has demonstrated the immunotoxicity potential of various NPs. Given that the number of engineered/designed NPs in biomedical applications is continuing to increase, it is pertinent to establish the toxicity profile for their safe and intelligent use in biomedical applications. The review is intended to summarize the NPs-induced immunomodulation pertaining to toxicity and therapeutic development in human health.
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Berillo D. Comparative Toxicity of Interferon Beta-1a Impurities of Heavy Metal Ions. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58040463. [PMID: 35454302 PMCID: PMC9027684 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Providing a proper quality control of drugs is essential for efficient treatment of various diseases minimizing the possible side effects of pharmaceutical active substances and potential impurities. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that certain heavy metalloids and metals interfere with protein folding of nascent proteins in cells and their biological function can be altered. It is unknown whether the drug impurities including heavy metals may affect the tertiary protein structure. Materials and Methods: ReciGen and Rebif are pharmaceutical interferon beta-1a (IFNβ-1a) contained in preparations that are used for parenteral administration. Heavy metal impurities of these samples have been studied by gel electrophoresis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis (ICP MS). The concentration of heavy metals including mercury, arsenic, nickel, chromium, iron, and aluminum did not exceed permitted levels established by International Council for Harmonisation guideline for elemental impurities. Results: The ICP MS analysis revealed the presence of heavy metals, moreover zeta potential was significantly different for IFNβ-1a, which can be an indirect indication of the difference in composition of ReciGen and Rebif samples, respectively. FTIR analysis revealed very similar amide I and II bonds at 1654 and 1560 cm−1 attributed to the peptide absorption peaks of IFNβ-1a in Rebif and ReciGen. Conclusions: It was hypothesized that the IFNβ-1a complex binds heavy metals affecting the tertiary protein structure and may lead to some side effects of drug administration. Further testing of IFNβ-1a bioequivalence for parenteral application is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitriy Berillo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry, Pharmacognosy and Botany School of Pharmacy, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan;
- Atchabarov Research Institute of Fundamental and Applied Medicine, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
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7
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Pathak N, Gunasekaran I, Ambriose M, Nanda SK. Nell1 as Target Antigen for Mercury Related Membranous Nephropathy: A Case Report. Indian J Nephrol 2022; 32:502-505. [PMID: 36568593 PMCID: PMC9775599 DOI: 10.4103/ijn.ijn_415_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy constitutes 30% of adult nephrotic syndrome. Of all cases of membranous nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy is commonest. Mercury is known to be a cause of secondary membranous nephropathy. There is no human data on the pathophysiology of mercury-related membranous nephropathy, but animal studies suggested an autoimmune mechanism behind it. There is no data to the best of our knowledge about target antigen for mercury-related membranous nephropathy. We are reporting a case of NELL-1 positive mercury-related membranous nephropathy that started resolving after stopping siddha medication and taking antiproteinuric. There was also concomitant euthyroid lymphocytic thyroiditis with anti-TPO positive, which started after exposure to siddha medication, which suggests systemic autoimmune phenomenon due to mercury exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabadwip Pathak
- Department of Nephrology, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science, Pondicherry, India,Address for correspondence: Dr. Nabadwip Pathak, No. 34, Church Street, Shivaji Nagar, Puducherry, India. E-mail:
| | - Indra Gunasekaran
- Department of Pathology, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science, Pondicherry, India
| | - Moses Ambriose
- Department of Pathology, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science, Pondicherry, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Nanda
- Department of Biochemistry, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science, Pondicherry, India
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8
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The Role of Exposomes in the Pathophysiology of Autoimmune Diseases I: Toxic Chemicals and Food. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2021; 28:513-543. [PMID: 35366249 PMCID: PMC8830458 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology28040034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases affect 5–9% of the world’s population. It is now known that genetics play a relatively small part in the pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders in general, and that environmental factors have a greater role. In this review, we examine the role of the exposome, an individual’s lifetime exposure to external and internal factors, in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases. The most common of these environmental factors are toxic chemicals, food/diet, and infections. Toxic chemicals are in our food, drink, common products, the air, and even the land we walk on. Toxic chemicals can directly damage self-tissue and cause the release of autoantigens, or can bind to human tissue antigens and form neoantigens, which can provoke autoimmune response leading to autoimmunity. Other types of autoimmune responses can also be induced by toxic chemicals through various effects at the cellular and biochemical levels. The food we eat every day commonly has colorants, preservatives, or packaging-related chemical contamination. The food itself may be antigenic for susceptible individuals. The most common mechanism for food-related autoimmunity is molecular mimicry, in which the food’s molecular structure bears a similarity with the structure of one or more self-tissues. The solution is to detect the trigger, remove it from the environment or diet, then repair the damage to the individual’s body and health.
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Silva-Filho R, Santos N, Santos MC, Nunes Á, Pinto R, Marinho C, Lima T, Fernandes MP, Santos JCC, Leite ACR. Impact of environmental mercury exposure on the blood cells oxidative status of fishermen living around Mundaú lagoon in Maceió - Alagoas (AL), Brazil. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 219:112337. [PMID: 34029837 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury in the aquatic environment can lead to exposure of the human population and is a known toxic metal due to its capacity for accumulation in organs. We aimed to evaluate the mercury level in the blood and urine of fishermen and correlate it with the level of oxidative stress in blood cells. We show in this case-control study that the fishermen of the exposed group (case) of Mundaú Lagoon (Maceió - Alagoas, Brazil) have higher concentrations of total mercury in the blood (0.73-48.38 μg L-1) and urine (0.430-10.2 μg L-1) than the total mercury concentrations in blood (0.29-17.30 μg L-1) and urine (0.210-2.65 μg L-1) of the control group. In the blood cells of fishermen, we observed that the lymphomononuclear cells produced high levels of reactive oxygen species (61.7%), and the erythrocytes presented increased lipid peroxidation (151%) and protein oxidation (41.0%) and a decrease in total thiol (36.5%), GSH and the REDOX state (16.5%). The activity of antioxidant system enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GST) was also reduced in the exposed group by 26.9%, 28.3%, and 19.0%, respectively. Furthermore, hemoglobin oxygen uptake was decreased in the exposed group (40.0%), and the membrane of cells presented increased osmotic fragility (154%) compared to those in the control group. These results suggest that mercury in the blood of fishermen can be responsible for causing impairments in the oxidative status of blood cells and is probably the cause of the reduction in oxygen uptake capacity and damage to the membranes of erythrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reginaldo Silva-Filho
- Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil; Laboratory of Instrumentation and Development in Analytical Chemistry, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Nerveson Santos
- Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Mayara Costa Santos
- Laboratory of Instrumentation and Development in Analytical Chemistry, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Ábner Nunes
- Research Group of Catalysis and Chemical Reactivity, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió-AL, Brazil
| | | | | | - Talitta Lima
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Exercise Biochemistry, Academic Center of Victory, Federal University of Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil
| | - Mariana P Fernandes
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Exercise Biochemistry, Academic Center of Victory, Federal University of Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil
| | - Josué Carinhanha C Santos
- Laboratory of Instrumentation and Development in Analytical Chemistry, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
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10
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Drenovska K, Shahid M, Vassileva S. Nickel and Skin: From Allergy to Autoimmunity. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2020; 20:1032-1040. [DOI: 10.2174/1871530320666191231115437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction & Objectives:
Cutaneous and systemic reactions to various metal implants and
medical devices have been well documented. The aim of this review was to focus on the probable
common mechanisms of allergy and autoimmunity that may lead to similar clinical outcomes following
the growing evidence in the literature of metal and nickel-related systemic, autoimmune or autoinflammatory
disorders.
Methods:
Detailed search of the available electronic databases (PubMed-Medline) was conducted for
review of the literature on that topic till the present moment.
Results:
Multiple reports on the immunological effects of metals including immunomodulation, allergy,
or autoimmunity were identified. It was found that metals may act through immunosuppression,
immunotoxicity, or as immune adjuvants thus provoking allergy and autoimmunity in susceptible individuals.
Both external or internal exposure to metals was observed. Nickel has been identified as the
most common sensitizer, and also the most studied one. The coexistence of both allergic and autoimmune
symptoms, induced by nickel, has been published, suggesting the autoimmune potential of nickel
compounds.
Conclusions:
Clinical experience and scientific literature together demonstrate that metals may play an
important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. While metal implant allergies and complications
are on the rise, they remain a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Elucidation of their possible
mechanisms will contribute to the more successful and safer treatment of affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kossara Drenovska
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sofia University of Medicine, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Martin Shahid
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sofia University of Medicine, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Snejina Vassileva
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sofia University of Medicine, Sofia, Bulgaria
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11
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Cannas D, Loi E, Serra M, Firinu D, Valera P, Zavattari P. Relevance of Essential Trace Elements in Nutrition and Drinking Water for Human Health and Autoimmune Disease Risk. Nutrients 2020; 12:E2074. [PMID: 32668647 PMCID: PMC7400883 DOI: 10.3390/nu12072074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Trace elements produce double-edged effects on the lives of animals and particularly of humans. On one hand, these elements represent potentially toxic agents; on the other hand, they are essentially needed to support growth and development and confer protection against disease. Certain trace elements and metals are particularly involved in humoral and cellular immune responses, playing the roles of cofactors for essential enzymes and antioxidant molecules. The amount taken up and the accumulation in human tissues decisively control whether the exerted effects are toxic or beneficial. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to re-consider, harmonize and update current legislative regulations regarding the concentrations of trace elements in food and in drinking water. This review aims to provide information on the interrelation of certain trace elements with risk of autoimmune disease, with a particular focus on type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. In addition, an overview of the current regulations and regulatory gaps is provided in order to highlight the importance of this issue for everyday nutrition and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cannas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (D.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Eleonora Loi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (D.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Matteo Serra
- Department of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Davide Firinu
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Monserrato Campus, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Paolo Valera
- Department of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Patrizia Zavattari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (D.C.); (E.L.)
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12
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Yang L, Zhang Y, Wang F, Luo Z, Guo S, Strähle U. Toxicity of mercury: Molecular evidence. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 245:125586. [PMID: 31881386 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Minamata disease in Japan and the large-scale poisoning by methylmercury (MeHg) in Iraq caused wide public concerns about the risk emanating from mercury for human health. Nowadays, it is widely known that all forms of mercury induce toxic effects in mammals, and increasing evidence supports the concern that environmentally relevant levels of MeHg could impact normal biological functions in wildlife. The information of mechanism involved in mercurial toxicity is growing but knowledge gaps still exist between the adverse effects and mechanisms of action, especially at the molecular level. A body of data obtained from experimental studies on mechanisms of mercurial toxicity in vivo and in vitro points to that disruption of the antioxidant system may play an important role in the mercurial toxic effects. Moreover, the accumulating evidence indicates that signaling transduction, protein or/and enzyme activity, and gene regulation are involving in mediating toxic and adaptive response to mercury exposure. We conducted here a comprehensive review of mercurial toxic effects on wildlife and human, in particular synthesized key findings of molecular pathways involved in mercurial toxicity from the cells to human. We discuss the molecular evidence related mercurial toxicity to the adverse effects, with particular emphasis on the gene regulation. The further studies relying on Omic analysis connected to adverse effects and modes of action of mercury will aid in the evaluation and validation of causative relationship between health outcomes and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China
| | - Zidie Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China
| | - Shaojuan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China
| | - Uwe Strähle
- Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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13
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Pérez CA, Shah EG, Butler IJ. Mercury-induced autoimmunity: Report of two adolescent siblings with Morvan syndrome "plus" and review of the literature. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 342:577197. [PMID: 32126315 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal toxicity is a global health concern. Mercury intoxication has been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, including Morvan syndrome. We describe two siblings with overlapping features of distinct autoimmune syndromes following accidental exposure to elemental mercury. Morvan syndrome was the predominant clinical phenotype. In addition to the characteristic anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) and anti-contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) autoantibodies, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-kilodalton isoform (GAD65), and N-type and P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibodies were detected. Treatment with chelation therapy, glucocorticoids, and intravenous immunoglobulin was unsuccessful, but complete resolution of symptoms was achieved following treatment with rituximab. Herein, we perform an extensive review of the literature with a focus on the emerging concepts of mercury-induced autoimmunity and the role of mercury in the etiopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Pérez
- Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Ekta G Shah
- Division of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ian J Butler
- Division of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Driller R, Ballaschk M, Schmieder P, Uchanska-Ziegler B, Ziegler A, Loll B. Metal-triggered conformational reorientation of a self-peptide bound to a disease-associated HLA-B*27 subtype. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:13269-13279. [PMID: 31296658 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.008937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Conformational changes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens have the potential to be recognized by T cells and may arise from polymorphic variation of the MHC molecule, the binding of modifying ligands, or both. Here, we investigated whether metal ions could affect allele-dependent structural variation of the two minimally distinct human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*27:05 and HLA-B*27:09 subtypes, which exhibit differential association with the rheumatic disease ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We employed NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography coupled with ensemble refinement to study the AS-associated HLA-B*27:05 subtype and the AS-nonassociated HLA-B* 27:09 in complex with the self-peptide pVIPR (RRKWRRWHL). Both techniques revealed that pVIPR exhibits a higher degree of flexibility when complexed with HLA-B*27:05 than with HLA-B*27:09. Furthermore, we found that the binding of the metal ion Cu2+ or Ni2+, but not Mn2+, Zn2+, or Hg2+, affects the structure of a pVIPR-bound HLA-B*27 molecule in a subtype-dependent manner. In HLA-B*27:05, the metals triggered conformational reorientations of pVIPR, but no such structural changes were observed in the HLA-B*27:09 subtype, with or without bound metal ion. These observations provide the first demonstration that not only major histocompatibility complex class II, but also class I, molecules can undergo metal ion-induced conformational alterations. Our findings suggest that metals may have a role in triggering rheumatic diseases such as AS and also have implications for the molecular basis of metal-induced hypersensitivities and allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronja Driller
- Institut für Chemie/Biochemie, AG Strukturbiochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Ballaschk
- Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Schmieder
- Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Barbara Uchanska-Ziegler
- Institut für Immungenetik, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 73, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Ziegler Biosolutions, Fahrgasse 5, 79761 Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany
| | - Andreas Ziegler
- Ziegler Biosolutions, Fahrgasse 5, 79761 Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany.
| | - Bernhard Loll
- Institut für Chemie/Biochemie, AG Strukturbiochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany; MoloX GmbH, Takustrasse 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Cao J, Xu X, Zhang Y, Zeng Z, Hylkema MN, Huo X. Increased memory T cell populations in Pb-exposed children from an e-waste-recycling area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 616-617:988-995. [PMID: 29096958 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to heavy metals could affect cell-mediated immunity. The aim of this study was to explore the status of memory T cell development in preschool children from an e-waste recycling area. Blood lead (Pb) levels, peripheral T cell subpopulations, and serum levels of cytokines (IL-2/IL-7/IL-15), relevant to generation and homeostasis of memory T cells were evaluated in preschool children from Guiyu (e-waste-exposed group) and Haojiang (reference group). The correlations between blood Pb levels and percentages of memory T cell subpopulations were also evaluated. Guiyu children had higher blood Pb levels and increased percentages of CD4+ central memory T cells and CD8+ central memory T cells than in the Haojiang group. Moreover, blood Pb levels were positively associated with the percentages of CD4+ central memory T cells. In contrast, Pb exposure contributed marginally in the change of percentages of CD8+ central memory T cells in children. There was no significant difference in the serum cytokine levels between the e-waste-exposed and reference children. Taken together, preschool children from an e-waste recycling area suffer from relatively higher levels of Pb exposure, which might facilitate the development of CD4+ central memory T cells in these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Cao
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands
| | - Xijin Xu
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands
| | - Machteld N Hylkema
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9713, GZ, The Netherlands
| | - Xia Huo
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China.
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16
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de Jong ME, Scheiber IBR, van den Brink NW, Braun A, Matson KD, Komdeur J, Loonen MJJE. Indices of stress and immune function in Arctic barnacle goslings (Branta leucopsis) were impacted by social isolation but not a contaminated grazing environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 601-602:132-141. [PMID: 28550726 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In many areas around the Arctic remains and spoil heaps of old mines can be found, which have been abandoned after their heydays. Runoff from tailings of these abandoned mines can directly contaminate the local environment with elevated concentrations of trace metals. Few studies have investigated the possible negative effects of contaminants on Arctic terrestrial animals that use these areas. Trace metals can accumulate in animals and this accumulation has been linked to negative effects on fitness. Both, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and/or the immune system have been named as possible underlying causes for these observations. Free-living animals are often exposed to multiple stressors simultaneously, however, and this is often not considered in studies on the effects of contaminants on animal physiology. Here, we performed a study on Spitsbergen (Svalbard) taking both potential effects of trace metal contamination and social stress into account. We investigated experimentally effects of exposure to contaminants from a historic coal mine area on plasma corticosterone levels and on four innate immune parameters (haemolysis, haemagglutination, haptoglobin-like activity and nitric oxide) before and after social isolation in human-raised barnacle goslings (Branta leucopsis). Baseline corticosterone and immune parameters were not affected by mine-exposure. After social isolation, mine goslings tended to show decreased haemagglutination in comparison with control goslings, but we detected no difference in the other measures. Social isolation increased corticosterone and decreased haptoglobin-like activity in all goslings. Immunology and corticosterone levels of barnacle goslings thus seem unaffected, at least on the short term, by Arctic coal mining contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margje E de Jong
- Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, Aweg 30, 9718 CW Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Isabella B R Scheiber
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, The University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nico W van den Brink
- Department of Toxicology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Anna Braun
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, The University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kevin D Matson
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, The University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Maarten J J E Loonen
- Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, Aweg 30, 9718 CW Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Pollard KM, Christy JM, Cauvi DM, Kono DH. Environmental Xenobiotic Exposure and Autoimmunity. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2017; 10:15-22. [PMID: 29503968 DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is dependent on multigenic inheritance, environmental factors, and stochastic events. Although there has been substantial progress in identifying predisposing genetic variants, a significant challenge facing autoimmune disease research is the identification of the specific events that trigger loss of tolerance, autoreactivity and ultimately autoimmune disease. Accordingly, studies have indicated that a wide range of extrinsic factors including drugs, chemicals, microbes, and other environmental factors can induce autoimmunity, particularly systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus. This review describes a class of environmental factors, namely xenobiotics, epidemiologically linked to human autoimmunity. Mechanisms of xenobiotic autoimmune disease induction are discussed in terms of human and animal model studies with a focus on the role of inflammation and the innate immune response. We argue that localized tissue damage and chronic inflammation elicited by xenobiotic exposure leads to the release of self-antigens and damage-associated molecular patterns as well as the appearance of ectopic lymphoid structures and secondary lymphoid hypertrophy, which provide a milieu for the production of autoreactive B and T cells that contribute to the development and persistence of autoimmunity in predisposed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michael Pollard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, MEM125, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA 92037
| | - Joseph M Christy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, MEM125, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA 92037
| | - David M Cauvi
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive #0739, La Jolla, CA, USA 92093
| | - Dwight H Kono
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, IMM310, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA 92037
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18
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Bailly J, Faivre B, Bernard N, Sage M, Crini N, Driget V, Garnier S, Rieffel D, Scheifler R. Multi-Element Analysis of Blood Samples in a Passerine Species: Excesses and Deficiencies of Trace Elements in an Urbanization Study. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Songini M, Mannu C, Targhetta C, Bruno G. Type 1 diabetes in Sardinia: facts and hypotheses in the context of worldwide epidemiological data. Acta Diabetol 2017; 54:9-17. [PMID: 27639869 DOI: 10.1007/s00592-016-0909-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells that requires lifelong insulin treatment. While significant advances have been achieved in treatment, prevention of complications and quality of life in diabetic people, the identification of environmental triggers of the disease is far more complex. The island of Sardinia has the second highest incidence of T1D in the world (45/100,000), right after Finland (64.2/100,000). The genetic background as well as the environment of the island's inhabitants makes it an ideal region for investigating environmental, immunological and genetic factors related to the etiopathogenesis of T1D. Several epidemiological studies, conducted over the years, have shown that exposures to important known environmental risk factors have changed over time, including nutritional factors, pollution, chemicals, toxins and infectious diseases in early life. These environmental risk factors might be involved in T1D pathogenesis, as they might initiate autoimmunity or accelerate and precipitate an already ongoing beta cell destruction. In terms of environmental factors, Sardinia is also particular in terms of the incidence of infection with Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) that recent studies have linked to T1D in the Sardinian population. Furthermore, the unique geochemical profile of Sardinia, with its particular density of heavy metals, leads to the assumption that exposure of the Sardinian population to heavy metals could also affect T1D incidence. These factors lead us to hypothesize that T1D incidence in Sardinia may be affected by the exposure to multifactorial agents, such as MAP, common viruses and heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C Mannu
- Diabetes Unit, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - G Bruno
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy.
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20
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Oulhote Y, Shamim Z, Kielsen K, Weihe P, Grandjean P, Ryder LP, Heilmann C. Children's white blood cell counts in relation to developmental exposures to methylmercury and persistent organic pollutants. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 68:207-214. [PMID: 27497749 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To explore possible markers of developmental immunotoxicity, we prospectively examined 56 children to determine associations between exposures to methylmercury and persistent organic pollutants since birth and the comprehensive differential counts of white blood cells (WBC) at age 5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS Extended differential count included: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes (includingT cells, NK cells, and B cells), and monocytes. Organochlorine compounds (OCs) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides, five perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and total mercury (Hg) were measured in maternal (n=56) and children's blood at 18 months (n=42) and 5 years (n=54). We constructed latent functions for exposures at three different ages using factor analyses and applied structural equation models adjusted for covariates. RESULTS Prenatal mercury exposure was associated with depleted total WBC, especially for lymphocytes, where a one standard deviation (SD) increase in the exposure was associated with a decrease by 23% SD (95% CI: -43, -4) in the cell count. Prenatal exposure to OCs was marginally associated with decreases in neutrophil counts. In contrast, the 5-year PFASs concentrations were associated with higher basophil counts (B=46% SD, 95% CI: 13, 79). Significantly reduced subpopulations of lymphocytes such as B cells, CD4-positive T helper cells and CD4 positive recent thymic emigrants may suggest cellular immunity effects and dysregulation of T-cell mediated immunity. CONCLUSION Developmental exposure to environmental immunotoxicants appears to have different impacts on WBC counts in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Oulhote
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Z Shamim
- Institute for Inflammation Research, Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K Kielsen
- Institute for Inflammation Research, Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - P Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - P Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - L P Ryder
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C Heilmann
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, Rustemeyer T, Kleverlaan CJ, Feilzer AJ, von Blomberg BME, van Hoogstraten IMW. Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure. Autoimmunity 2015; 48:494-501. [DOI: 10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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22
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Ethylmercury and Hg2+ induce the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by human neutrophil granulocytes. Arch Toxicol 2015; 90:543-50. [PMID: 25701957 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-015-1484-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to different mercurial compounds from various sources, most frequently from dental fillings, preservatives in vaccines, or consumption of fish. Among other toxic effects, these substances interact with the immune system. In high doses, mercurials are immunosuppressive. However, lower doses of some mercurials stimulate the immune system, inducing different forms of autoimmunity, autoantibodies, and glomerulonephritis in rodents. Furthermore, some studies suggest a connection between mercury exposure and the occurrence of autoantibodies against nuclear components and granulocyte cytoplasmic proteins in humans. Still, the underlying mechanisms need to be clarified. The present study investigates the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in response to thimerosal and its metabolites ethyl mercury (EtHg), thiosalicylic acid, and mercuric ions (Hg(2+)). Only EtHg and Hg(2+) triggered NETosis. It was independent of PKC, ERK1/2, p38, and zinc signals and not affected by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor DPI. Instead, EtHg and Hg(2+) triggered NADPH oxidase-independent production of ROS, which are likely to be involved in mercurial-induced NET formation. This finding might help understanding the autoimmune potential of mercurial compounds. Some diseases, to which a connection with mercurials has been shown, such as Wegener's granulomatosis and systemic lupus erythematosus, are characterized by high prevalence of autoantibodies against neutrophil-specific auto-antigens. Externalization in the form of NETs may be a source for exposure to these self-antigens. In genetically susceptible individuals, this could be one step in the series of events leading to autoimmunity.
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Penta KL, Fairweather D, Shirley DL, Rose NR, Silbergeld EK, Nyland JF. Low-dose mercury heightens early innate response to coxsackievirus infection in female mice. Inflamm Res 2014; 64:31-40. [PMID: 25376339 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-014-0781-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with toxic outcomes over a range of exposures. In this study, we investigated the effects of mercury exposure on early immune responses to coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection in a murine model of autoimmune heart disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Female BALB/c mice, susceptible to CVB3-induced autoimmune myocarditis, were treated with mercuric chloride (200 μg/kg body weight every other day for 2 weeks) prior to infection with CVB3. Six hours post-infection, immune cells were isolated from the spleen and peritoneum for flow cytometry, gene expression, and cytokine profiling. Thirty-five days post-infection, hearts were collected for histological examination of immune cell infiltration. RESULTS As for male mice, mercury exposure significantly increased autoimmune myocarditis and immune infiltration into the heart. During the innate response 6 h post-infection, mercury increased expression of co-stimulatory molecules and innate immune receptors on peritoneal macrophages. At the same time point, the alternatively activated macrophage gene, arginase, was increased while the classically activated macrophage gene, inducible nitric oxide synthase, was unaffected. Expression of activation markers were decreased on peritoneal B cells with mercury exposure while T cells were unaffected. Mercury increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators in the spleen. Macrophage-recruiting chemokines and activating cytokines, such as CCL2, CCL4, and IL-6, were increased with mercury following CVB3 infection. CONCLUSIONS Thus, mercury treatment exacerbates autoimmune myocarditis in female mice and alters early innate signaling on peritoneal macrophages. Mercury also modulates the cytokine profile in the spleen toward a macrophage-activating milieu, and upregulates alternatively activated macrophage genes, providing evidence that mercury exposure promotes inflammation in the context of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla L Penta
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, 6439 Garner's Ferry Rd, VA#1 B10, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
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Toomey CB, Cauvi DM, Hamel JC, Ramirez AE, Pollard KM. Cathepsin B regulates the appearance and severity of mercury-induced inflammation and autoimmunity. Toxicol Sci 2014; 142:339-49. [PMID: 25237059 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfu189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Susceptibility and resistance to systemic autoimmunity are genetically regulated. This is particularly true for murine mercury-induced autoimmunity (mHgIA) where DBA/2J mice are considered resistant to disease including polyclonal B cell activation, autoantibody responses, and immune complex deposits. To identify possible mechanisms for the resistance to mHgIA, we exposed mHgIA sensitive B10.S and resistant DBA/2J mice to HgCl2 and assessed inflammation and pro-inflammatory responses at the site of exposure and subsequent development of markers of systemic autoimmunity. DBA/2J mice showed little evidence of induration at the site of exposure, expression of proinflammatory cytokines, T cell activation, or autoantibody production, although they did exhibit increased levels of total serum IgG and IgG1. In contrast B10.S mice developed significant inflammation together with increased expression of inflammasome component NLRP3, proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, hypergammaglobulinemia, splenomegaly, CD4(+) T-cell activation, and production of autoantibodies. Inflammation in B10.S mice was associated with a selective increase in activity of cysteine cathepsin B but not cathepsins L or S. Increased cathepsin B activity was not dependent on cytokines required for mHgIA but treatment with CA-074, a cathepsin B inhibitor, led to transient reduction of local induration, expression of inflammatory cytokines, and subsequent attenuation of the systemic adaptive immune response. These findings demonstrate that sensitivity to mHgIA is linked to an early cathepsin B regulated inflammatory response which can be pharmacologically exploited to abrogate the subsequent adaptive autoimmune response which leads to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Toomey
- *Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Duke University, 2351 Erwin Road, Durham, North Carolina 27710, Department of Surgery and Center for Investigations of Health and Education Disparities, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, No. 0739, La Jolla, California 92093-0739 and Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - David M Cauvi
- *Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Duke University, 2351 Erwin Road, Durham, North Carolina 27710, Department of Surgery and Center for Investigations of Health and Education Disparities, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, No. 0739, La Jolla, California 92093-0739 and Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - John C Hamel
- *Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Duke University, 2351 Erwin Road, Durham, North Carolina 27710, Department of Surgery and Center for Investigations of Health and Education Disparities, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, No. 0739, La Jolla, California 92093-0739 and Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Andrea E Ramirez
- *Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Duke University, 2351 Erwin Road, Durham, North Carolina 27710, Department of Surgery and Center for Investigations of Health and Education Disparities, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, No. 0739, La Jolla, California 92093-0739 and Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - K Michael Pollard
- *Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Duke University, 2351 Erwin Road, Durham, North Carolina 27710, Department of Surgery and Center for Investigations of Health and Education Disparities, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, No. 0739, La Jolla, California 92093-0739 and Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
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Jha V, Workman CJ, McGaha TL, Li L, Vas J, Vignali DAA, Monestier M. Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3) negatively regulates environmentally-induced autoimmunity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104484. [PMID: 25122007 PMCID: PMC4133201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors including drugs, mineral oils and heavy metals such as lead, gold and mercury are triggers of autoimmune diseases in animal models or even in occupationally exposed humans. After exposure to subtoxic levels of mercury (Hg), genetically susceptible strains of mice develop an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of highly specific anti-nucleolar autoantibodies, hyperglobulinemia and nephritis. However, mice can be tolerized to the disease by a single low dose administration of Hg. Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3) is a CD4-related, MHC-class II binding molecule expressed on activated T cells and NK cells which maintains lymphocyte homeostatic balance via various inhibitory mechanisms. In our model, administration of anti-LAG-3 monoclonal antibody broke tolerance to Hg resulting in autoantibody production and an increase in serum IgE level. In addition, LAG-3-deficient B6.SJL mice not only had increased susceptibility to Hg-induced autoimmunity but were also unresponsive to tolerance induction. Conversely, adoptive transfer of wild-type CD4+ T cells was able to partially rescue LAG-3-deficient mice from the autoimmune disease. Further, in LAG-3-deficient mice, mercury elicited higher amounts of IL-6, IL-4 and IFN-γ, cytokines known to play a critical role in mercury-induced autoimmunity. Therefore, we conclude that LAG-3 exerts an important regulatory effect on autoimmunity elicited by a common environmental pollutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibha Jha
- Temple Autoimmunity Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Creg J. Workman
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Tracy L. McGaha
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Liping Li
- Temple Autoimmunity Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jaya Vas
- Temple Autoimmunity Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Dario A. A. Vignali
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Marc Monestier
- Temple Autoimmunity Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Vojdani A, Kharrazian D, Mukherjee PS. Elevated levels of antibodies against xenobiotics in a subgroup of healthy subjects. J Appl Toxicol 2014; 35:383-97. [PMID: 25042713 PMCID: PMC4365752 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In spite of numerous research efforts, the exact etiology of autoimmune diseases remains largely unknown. Genetics and environmental factors, including xenobiotics, are believed to be involved in the induction of autoimmune disease. Some environmental chemicals, acting as haptens, can bind to a high-molecular-weight carrier protein such as human serum albumin (HSA), causing the immune system to misidentify self-tissue as an invader and launch an immune response against it, leading to autoimmunity. This study aimed to examine the percentage of blood samples from healthy donors in which chemical agents mounted immune challenges and produced antibodies against HSA-bound chemicals. The levels of specific antibodies against 12 different chemicals bound to HSA were measured by ELISA in serum from 400 blood donors. We found that 10% (IgG) and 17% (IgM) of tested individuals showed significant antibody elevation against aflatoxin-HSA adduct. The percentage of elevation against the other 11 chemicals ranged from 8% to 22% (IgG) and 13% to 18% (IgM). Performance of serial dilution and inhibition of the chemical–antibody reaction by specific antigens but not by non-specific antigens were indicative of the specificity of these antibodies. Although we lack information about chemical exposure in the tested individuals, detection of antibodies against various protein adducts may indicate chronic exposure to these chemical haptens in about 20% of the tested individuals. Currently the pathological significance of these antibodies in human blood is still unclear, and this protein adduct formation could be one of the mechanisms by which environmental chemicals induce autoimmune reactivity in a significant percentage of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristo Vojdani
- Immunosciences Lab., Inc., 822 S. Robertson Blvd., Ste. 312, Los Angeles, CA, 90035, USA
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Muris J, Scheper RJ, Kleverlaan CJ, Rustemeyer T, van Hoogstraten IMW, von Blomberg ME, Feilzer AJ. Palladium-based dental alloys are associated with oral disease and palladium-induced immune responses. Contact Dermatitis 2014; 71:82-91. [DOI: 10.1111/cod.12238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Revised: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joris Muris
- Department of Dental Materials Science; Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam & VU University Amsterdam; Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004 1081 LA Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Rik J. Scheper
- Department of Pathology; VU University Medical Centre; De Boelelaan 1117 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis J. Kleverlaan
- Department of Dental Materials Science; Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam & VU University Amsterdam; Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004 1081 LA Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Rustemeyer
- Department of Dermatology; VU University Medical Centre; De Boelelaan 1117 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | | | - Mary E. von Blomberg
- Department of Pathology; VU University Medical Centre; De Boelelaan 1117 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Albert J. Feilzer
- Department of Dental Materials Science; Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam & VU University Amsterdam; Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004 1081 LA Amsterdam The Netherlands
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Valera P, Zavattari P, Albanese S, Cicchella D, Dinelli E, Lima A, De Vivo B. A correlation study between multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes incidences and geochemical data in Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2014; 36:79-98. [PMID: 23567975 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-013-9520-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Complex multifactorial disorders usually arise in individuals genetically at risk in the presence of permissive environmental factors. For many of these diseases, predisposing gene variants are partly known while the identification of the environmental component is much more difficult. This study aims to investigate whether there are correlations between the incidence of two complex traits, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, and some chemical elements and compounds present in soils and stream sediments in Europe. Data were obtained from the published literature and analyzed by calculating the mean values of each element and of disease incidence for each Country, respectively, 17 for multiple sclerosis and 21 for type 1 diabetes. Correlation matrices and regression analyses were used in order to compare incidence data and geochemical data. R correlation index and significance were evaluated. The analyses performed in this study have revealed significant positive correlations between barium and sodium oxide on one hand and multiple sclerosis and diabetes incidences on the other hand that may suggest interactions to be evaluated between silicon-rich lithologies and/or marine environments. The negative correlations shown by cobalt, chromium and nickel (typical of silicon-poor environment), which in this case can be interpreted as protective effects against the two diseases onset, make the split between favorable and protective environments even more obvious. In conclusion, if other studies will confirm the involvement of the above elements and compounds in the etiology of these pathologies, then it will be possible to plan strategies to reduce the spread of these serious pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Valera
- Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Via Marengo 3, 09123, Cagliari, Italy,
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The role of decay accelerating factor in environmentally induced and idiopathic systemic autoimmune disease. Autoimmune Dis 2014; 2014:452853. [PMID: 24592327 PMCID: PMC3921935 DOI: 10.1155/2014/452853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Decay accelerating factor (DAF) plays a complex role in the immune system through complement-dependent and -independent regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. Over the past five years there has been accumulating evidence for a significant role of DAF in negatively regulating adaptive T-cell responses and autoimmunity in both humans and experimental models. This review discusses the relationship between DAF and the complement system and highlights major advances in our understanding of the biology of DAF in human disease, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. The role of DAF in regulation of idiopathic and environmentally induced systemic autoimmunity is discussed including studies showing that reduction or absence of DAF is associated with autoimmunity. In contrast, DAF-mediated T cell activation leads to cytokine expression consistent with T regulatory cells. This is supported by studies showing that interaction between DAF and its molecular partner, CD97, modifies expression of autoimmunity promoting cytokines. These observations are used to develop a hypothetical model to explain how DAF expression may impact T cell differentiation via interaction with CD97 leading to T regulatory cells, increased production of IL-10, and immune tolerance.
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Carocci A, Rovito N, Sinicropi MS, Genchi G. Mercury toxicity and neurodegenerative effects. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2014; 229:1-18. [PMID: 24515807 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-03777-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is among the most toxic heavy metals and has no known physiological role in humans. Three forms of mercury exist: elemental, inorganic and organic. Mercury has been used by man since ancient times. Among the earliest were the Chinese and Romans, who employed cinnabar (mercury sulfide) as a red dye in ink (Clarkson et al. 2007). Mercury has also been used to purify gold and silver minerals by forming amalgams. This is a hazardous practice, but is still widespread in Brazil's Amazon basin, in Laos and in Venezuela, where tens of thousands of miners are engaged in local mining activities to find and purify gold or silver. Mercury compounds were long used to treat syphilis and the element is still used as an antiseptic,as a medicinal preservative and as a fungicide. Dental amalgams, which contain about 50% mercury, have been used to repair dental caries in the U.S. since 1856.Mercury still exists in many common household products around the world.Examples are: thermometers, barometers, batteries, and light bulbs (Swain et al.2007). In small amounts, some organo mercury-compounds (e.g., ethylmercury tiosalicylate(thimerosal) and phenylmercury nitrate) are used as preservatives in some medicines and vaccines (Ballet al. 2001).Each mercury form has its own toxicity profile. Exposure to Hg0 vapor and MeHg produce symptoms in CNS, whereas, the kidney is the target organ when exposures to the mono- and di-valent salts of mercury (Hg+ and Hg++, respectively)occur. Chronic exposure to inorganic mercury produces stomatitis, erethism and tremors. Chronic MeHg exposure induced symptoms similar to those observed in ALS, such as the early onset of hind limb weakness (Johnson and Atchison 2009).Among the organic mercury compounds, MeHg is the most biologically available and toxic (Scheuhammer et a!. 2007). MeHg is neurotoxic, reaching high levels of accumulation in the CNS; it can impair physiological function by disrupting endocrine glands (Tan et a!. 2009).The most important mechanism by which mercury causes toxicity appears to bemitochondrial damage via depletion of GSH (Nicole et a!. 1998), coupled with binding to thiol groups ( -SH), which generates free radicals. Mercury has a high affinity for thiol groups ( -SH) and seleno groups ( -SeH) that are present in amino acids as cysteine and N-acetyl cysteine, lipoic acid, proteins, and enzymes. N-acetylcysteine and cysteine are precursors for the biosynthesis of GSH, which is among the most powerful intracellular antioxidants available to protect against oxidative stress and inflammation.Mercury and methylmercury induce mitochondrial dysfunction, which reduces ATP synthesis and increases lipid, protein and DNA peroxidation. The content of metallothioneines, GSH, selenium and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids appear to be strongly related with degree of inorganic and organic mercury toxicity, and with the protective detoxifying mechanisms in humans. In conclusion, depletion of GSH,breakage of mitochondria, increased lipid peroxidation, and oxidation of proteins and DNA in the brain, induced by mercury and his salts, appear to be important factors in conditions such as ALS and AD (Bains and Shaw 1997; Nicole eta!. 1998;Spencer eta!. 1998; Alberti et a!. 1999).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Carocci
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro", Bari, 70125, Italia
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The role of T helper (TH)17 cells as a double-edged sword in the interplay of infection and autoimmunity with a focus on xenobiotic-induced immunomodulation. Clin Dev Immunol 2013; 2013:374769. [PMID: 24151516 PMCID: PMC3787652 DOI: 10.1155/2013/374769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2013] [Revised: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 06/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Extensive research in recent years suggests that exposure to xenobiotic stimuli plays a critical role in autoimmunity induction and severity and that the resulting response would be exacerbated in individuals with an infection-aroused immune system. In this context, heavy metals constitute a prominent category of xenobiotic substances, known to alter divergent immune cell responses in accidentally and occupationally exposed individuals, thereby increasing the susceptibility to autoimmunity and cancer, especially when accompanied by inflammation-triggered persistent sensitization. This perception is learned from experimental models of infection and epidemiologic studies and clearly underscores the interplay of exposure to such immunomodulatory elements with pre- or postexposure infectious events. Further, the TH17 cell subset, known to be associated with a growing list of autoimmune manifestations, may be the “superstar” at the interface of xenobiotic exposure and autoimmunity. In this review, the most recently established links to this nomination are short-listed to create a framework to better understand new insights into TH17's contributions to autoimmunity.
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Abstract
Metal hypersensitivity is a common immune disorder. Human immune systems mount the allergic attacks on metal ions through skin contacts, lung inhalation and metal-containing artificial body implants. The consequences can be simple annoyances to life-threatening systemic illness. Allergic hyper-reactivities to nickel (Ni) and beryllium (Be) are the best-studied human metal hypersensitivities. Ni-contact dermatitis affects 10 % of the human population, whereas Be compounds are the culprits of chronic Be disease (CBD). αβ T cells (T cells) play a crucial role in these hypersensitivity reactions. Metal ions work as haptens and bind to the surface of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and peptide complex. This modifies the binding surface of MHC and triggers the immune response of T cells. Metal-specific αβ T cell receptors (TCRs) are usually MHC restricted, especially MHC class II (MHCII) restricted. Numerous models have been proposed, yet the mechanisms and molecular basis of metal hypersensitivity remain elusive. Recently, we determined the crystal structures of the Ni and Be presenting human MHCII molecules, HLA-DR52c (DRA*0101, DRB3*0301) and HLA-DP2 (DPA1*0103, DPB1*0201). These structures revealed unusual features of MHCII molecules and shed light on how metal ions are recognized by T cells.
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33
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Gallo PM, Gallucci S. The dendritic cell response to classic, emerging, and homeostatic danger signals. Implications for autoimmunity. Front Immunol 2013; 4:138. [PMID: 23772226 PMCID: PMC3677085 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) initiate and control immune responses, participate in the maintenance of immunological tolerance and are pivotal players in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. In patients with autoimmune disease and in experimental animal models of autoimmunity, DCs show abnormalities in both numbers and activation state, expressing immunogenic levels of costimulatory molecules and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Exogenous and endogenous danger signals activate DCs to stimulate the immune response. Classic endogenous danger signals are released, activated, or secreted by host cells and tissues experiencing stress, damage, and non-physiologic cell death; and are therefore referred to as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Some DAMPs are released from cells, where they are normally sequestered, during necrosis (e.g., heat shock proteins, uric acid, ATP, HMGB1, mitochondria-derived molecules). Others are actively secreted, like Type I Interferons. Here we discuss important DAMPs in the context of autoimmunity. For some, there is a clear pathogenic link (e.g., nucleic acids and lupus). For others, there is less evidence. Additionally, we explore emerging danger signals. These include inorganic materials and man-made technologies (e.g., nanomaterials) developed as novel therapeutic approaches. Some nanomaterials can activate DCs and may trigger unintended inflammatory responses. Finally, we will review “homeostatic danger signals,” danger signals that do not derive directly from pathogens or dying cells but are associated with perturbations of tissue/cell homeostasis and may signal pathological stress. These signals, like acidosis, hypoxia, and changes in osmolarity, also play a role in inflammation and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Gallo
- Laboratory of Dendritic Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple Autoimmunity Center, Temple University School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA
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34
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Sorci G, Cornet S, Faivre B. Immunity and the emergence of virulent pathogens. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 16:441-6. [PMID: 23333337 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The emergence/re-emergence of infectious diseases has been one of the major concerns for human and wildlife health. In spite of the medical and veterinary progresses as to prevent and cure infectious diseases, during the last decades we have witnessed the emergence/re-emergence of virulent pathogens that pose a threat to humans and wildlife. Many factors that might drive the emergence of these novel pathogens have been identified and several reviews have been published on this topic in the last years. Among the most cited and recognized drivers of pathogen emergence are climate change, habitat destruction, increased contact with reservoirs, etc. These factors mostly refer to environmental determinants of emergence. However, the immune system of the host is probably the most important environmental trait parasites have to cope with. Here, we wish to discuss how immune-mediated selection might affect the emergence/re-emergence of infectious diseases and drive the evolution of disease severity. Vaccination, natural (age-associated) and acquired immunodeficiencies, organ transplantation, environmental contamination with chemicals that disrupt immune functions form populations of hosts that might exert specific immune-mediated selection on a range of pathogens, shaping their virulence and evolution, and favoring their spread to other populations of hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Sorci
- Biogéosciences, UMR CNRS 6282, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
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35
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Nicole JA, Iván GA. Inmunopatogenia de las enfermedades autoinmunes. REVISTA MÉDICA CLÍNICA LAS CONDES 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0716-8640(12)70337-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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36
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Definition of IFN-γ-related pathways critical for chemically-induced systemic autoimmunity. J Autoimmun 2012; 39:323-31. [PMID: 22578563 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
IFN-γ is essential for idiopathic and murine mercury-induced systemic autoimmunity (mHgIA), and heterozygous IFN-γ(+/-) mice also exhibit reduced disease. This suggests that blocking specific IFN-γ-related pathways that may only partially inhibit IFN-γ production or function will also suppress autoimmunity. To test this hypothesis, mice deficient in genes regulating IFN-γ expression (Casp1, Nlrp3, Il12a, Il12b, Stat4) or function (Ifngr1, Irf1) were examined for mHgIA susceptibility. Absence of either Ifngr1 or Irf1 resulted in a striking reduction of disease, while deficiency of genes promoting IFN-γ expression had modest to no effect. Furthermore, both Irf1- and Ifng-deficiency only modestly reduced the expansion of CD44(hi) and CD44(hi)CD55(lo) CD4(+) T cells, indicating that they are not absolutely required for T cell activation. Thus, there is substantial redundancy in genes that regulate IFN-γ expression in contrast to those that mediate later signaling events. These findings have implications for the therapeutic targeting of IFN-γ pathways in systemic autoimmunity.
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Pollard KM, Hultman P, Toomey CB, Cauvi DM, Kono DH, Konoc DH. β2-microglobulin is required for the full expression of xenobiotic-induced systemic autoimmunity. J Immunotoxicol 2011; 8:228-37. [PMID: 21793797 DOI: 10.3109/1547691x.2011.583614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury exposure in both humans and mice is associated with features of systemic autoimmunity. Murine HgCl₂-induced autoimmunity (mHgIA) requires MHC Class II, CD4⁺ T-cells, co-stimulatory molecules, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), similar to spontaneous models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). β₂-microglobulin (B2m) is required for functional MHC Class I molecules and the neonatal F(c) receptor (F(c)Rn). Deficiency of B2m in lupus-prone strains is consistently associated with reduced IgG levels, but with variable effects on other manifestations. Herein, we examined the role of B2m in mHgIA and show that in the absence of B2m, mercury-exposed mice failed to exhibit hypergammaglobulinemia, had reduced anti-nucleolar autoantibodies (ANoA), and had a lower incidence of immune complex deposits in splenic blood vessels, whereas IgG anti-chromatin autoantibodies and renal immune deposits were largely unaffected. Subclass analysis of the IgG anti-chromatin, however, revealed a significant reduction in the IgG₁ subtype. Examination of IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-2 in exposed skin, draining lymph nodes, and spleen following mercury exposure showed reduced IL-4 in the spleen and skin in B2m-deficient mice, consistent with the lower IgG₁ anti-chromatin levels, and reduced IFNγ expression in the skin. These findings demonstrate how a single genetic alteration can partially but significantly modify the clinical manifestations of systemic autoimmunity induced by exposure to xenobiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Pollard
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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39
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Pollard KM. Gender differences in autoimmunity associated with exposure to environmental factors. J Autoimmun 2011; 38:J177-86. [PMID: 22137891 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2011.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmunity is thought to result from a combination of genetics, environmental triggers, and stochastic events. Gender is also a significant risk factor with many diseases exhibiting a female bias. Although the role of environmental triggers, especially medications, in eliciting autoimmunity is well established less is known about the interplay between gender, the environment and autoimmunity. This review examines the contribution of gender in autoimmunity induced by selected chemical, physical and biological agents in humans and animal models. Epidemiological studies reveal that environmental factors can be associated with a gender bias in human autoimmunity. However many studies show that the increased risk of autoimmunity is often influenced by occupational exposure or other gender biased activities. Animal studies, although often prejudiced by the exclusive use of female animals, reveal that gender bias can be strain specific suggesting an interaction between sex chromosome complement and background genes. This observation has important implications because it argues that within a gender biased disease there may be individuals in which gender does not contribute to autoimmunity. Exposure to environmental factors, which encompasses everything around us, adds an additional layer of complexity. Understanding how the environment influences the relationship between sex chromosome complement and innate and adaptive immune responses will be essential in determining the role of gender in environmentally-induced autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michael Pollard
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States.
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Nyland JF, Fairweather D, Shirley DL, Davis SE, Rose NR, Silbergeld EK. Low-dose inorganic mercury increases severity and frequency of chronic coxsackievirus-induced autoimmune myocarditis in mice. Toxicol Sci 2011; 125:134-43. [PMID: 21984480 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfr264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury is a widespread environmental contaminant with neurotoxic impacts that have been observed over a range of exposures. In addition, there is increasing evidence that inorganic mercury (iHg) and organic mercury (including methyl mercury) have a range of immunotoxic effects, including immune suppression and induction of autoimmunity. In this study, we investigated the effect of iHg on a model of autoimmune heart disease in mice induced by infection with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). We examined the role of timing of iHg exposure on disease; in some experiments, mice were pretreated with iHg (200 μg/kg, every other day for 15 days) before disease induction with virus inoculation, and in others, they were treated with iHg after the acute (viral) phase of disease but before the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). iHg alone had no effect on heart pathology. Pretreatment with iHg before CVB3 infection significantly increased the severity of chronic myocarditis and DCM compared with control animals receiving vehicle alone. In contrast, treatment with iHg after acute myocarditis did not affect the severity of chronic disease. The increased chronic myocarditis, fibrosis, and DCM induced by iHg pretreatment were not due to increased viral replication in the heart, which was unaltered by iHg treatment. iHg pretreatment induced a macrophage infiltrate and mixed cytokine response in the heart during acute myocarditis, including significantly increased interleukin (IL)-12, IL-17, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. IL-17 levels were also significantly increased in the spleen during chronic disease. Thus, we show for the first time that low-dose Hg exposure increases chronic myocarditis and DCM in a murine model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer F Nyland
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina 29209, USA.
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41
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Park H, Kim K. Association of blood mercury concentrations with atopic dermatitis in adults: a population-based study in Korea. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2011; 111:573-578. [PMID: 21342690 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2010] [Revised: 12/24/2010] [Accepted: 02/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases among children and adults. Although the risk factors for atopic dermatitis have not yet been fully identified, exposure to mercury may be an important environmental risk factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between mercury body burden and prevalence of atopic dermatitis in an adult population. We recruited participants (n=1990) aged 20 years or older, using stratified random sampling of Korean census blocks. Demographic characteristics and medical history of atopic dermatitis were collected from participants by questionnaire, and mercury levels were determined by an analysis of blood samples. We found that demographic factors such as sex, age, alcohol drinking status, income, and fish or shellfish consumption were important covariates determining blood mercury concentration. Sex and cigarette smoking status were important demographic variables affecting the prevalence of atopic dermatitis. After adjusting for demographic factors, blood mercury concentrations were positively associated with lifetime prevalence of atopic dermatitis [odds ratio (OR), highest vs. lowest tertile=1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-2.21; p for trend=0.057]. This association became stronger for 1-year prevalence of atopic dermatitis (OR, highest vs. lowest tertile=1.82; 95% CI, 1.17-2.83; p for trend=0.026). Mercury body burden and atopic dermatitis prevalence vary across demographic characteristics, and increased blood level of mercury was related to an incidence of atopic dermatitis in this adult population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyejin Park
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea
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Radic M, Herrmann M, van der Vlag J, Rekvig OP. Regulatory and pathogenetic mechanisms of autoantibodies in SLE. Autoimmunity 2011; 44:349-56. [PMID: 21231891 DOI: 10.3109/08916934.2010.536794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In the 53 years since the discovery of anti-DNA autoantibodies in lupus [1, 2, 3] , recalcitrant questions have been pondered and possible answers have been debated. The discovery of anti-DNA autoantibodies presented many puzzles: How is immunological tolerance to native B-form DNA broken? What elicits characteristic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) autoantibodies? Which of the diverse anti-nuclear reactivities are pathogenic? What is the role of autoantibodies in the clinical presentation of disease? How do genetic predisposition and environmental triggers contribute to SLE? These questions were brought into focus by Professor David Stollar in an introductory presentation to an intense, three-day meeting set among the rugged and inspiring scenery of the Norwegian arctic coastline (the Scientific Program is included as supplemental File 1). Other participants presented and discussed topics directed to understanding the origin and clinico-pathological impact of autoantibodies to chromatin and phospholipid antigens. In the following, several aspects of the workshop are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Radic
- Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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Berzas Nevado JJ, Rodríguez Martín-Doimeadios RC, Guzmán Bernardo FJ, Jiménez Moreno M, Herculano AM, do Nascimento JLM, Crespo-López ME. Mercury in the Tapajós River basin, Brazilian Amazon: a review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2010; 36:593-608. [PMID: 20483161 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2009] [Revised: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2010] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a review about mercury contamination and human exposure in the Tapajós River basin (Brazil), one of the major tributaries of the Amazon impacted by traditional gold mining from the mid 1980s. The most recent review in this region was published more than ten years ago and since then many articles about environment and especially human populations have revealed new aspects of mercury toxicology. Additionally, new biomarkers of mercury exposure and toxicity have been studied in these populations. However, there are still many open, about both mercury's biogeochemical cycle and mercury health risks. Further environmental and human risk research directions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Berzas Nevado
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Abstract
Susceptibility to most autoimmune diseases is dependent on polygenic inheritance, environmental factors, and poorly defined stochastic events. One of the significant challenges facing autoimmune disease research is in identifying the specific events that trigger loss of tolerance and autoimmunity. Although many intrinsic factors, including age, sex, and genetics, contribute to autoimmunity, extrinsic factors such as drugs, chemicals, microbes, or other environmental factors can also act as important initiators. This review explores how certain extrinsic factors, namely, drugs and chemicals, can promote the development of autoimmunity, focusing on a few better characterized agents that, in most instances, have been shown to produce autoimmune manifestations in human populations. Mechanisms of autoimmune disease induction are discussed in terms of research obtained using specific animal models. Although a number of different pathways have been delineated for drug/chemical-induced autoimmunity, some similarities do exist, and a working model is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michael Pollard
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California, 92037, USA
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Pigatto PD, Guzzi G. Linking mercury amalgam to autoimmunity. Trends Immunol 2010; 31:48-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2009.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2009] [Revised: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 12/17/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Cummings KJ, Donat WE, Ettensohn DB, Roggli VL, Ingram P, Kreiss K. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in workers at an indium processing facility. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009; 181:458-64. [PMID: 20019344 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200907-1022cr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Two cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, including one death, occurred in workers at a facility producing indium-tin oxide (ITO), a compound used in recent years to make flat panel displays. Both workers were exposed to airborne ITO dust and had indium in lung tissue specimens. One worker was tested for autoantibodies to granulocytemacrophage-colonystimulating factor (GM-CSF) and found to have an elevated level. These cases suggest that inhalational exposure to ITO causes pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, which may occur via an autoimmune mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J Cummings
- Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
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