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Associated Autoimmunity and Lead Exposure in Childhood

Received: 28 February 2021     Accepted: 15 March 2021     Published: 26 March 2021
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Abstract

Background: The autoimmunity associated with environmental pollutants such as heavy metals is a phenomenon that has been described previously. The aim of the present study investigated the relationship between autoimmunity and lead pollutants in a cohort of children who lived in a mining settlement. Methods: Children were studied clinically and serologically. The serum lead concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, and antinuclear antibodies were analysed by immunofluorescence, ELISA and Western blot. Results: None of the studied children displayed any autoimmune disease. The lead concentration in the control group was negligible, at 0.10 ± 011 μg. L-1. In contrast, the study group had values of 12.72 ± 0.5 μg. L-1. The differences between the groups were significant (p < 0.0001). In addition, control sera were negative for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), while the sera of children living near the mining settlement showed ANA-positive titres (p < 0.001). These autoantibodies mainly recognized antigens associated with dividing cells, such as the mitotic apparatus and centrioles. Conclusion: The present results show how metallic pollutants induce environmentally associated autoimmunity and are reflected by antinuclear antibodies. This research should prompt us to take greater caution and implement permanent monitoring to ensure a healthy environment.

Published in International Journal of Immunology (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14
Page(s) 16-21
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Autoimmunity, Autoimmune Diseases, Autoantibodies, Antinuclear Antibodies, Enviromental Pollutants, Humoral Immunity

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Deyanira Pacheco-Tovar, María-Guadalupe Pacheco-Tovar, Esperanza Avalos-Díaz, Juan-José Bollain-y-Goytia, María-Elena Pérez-Pérez, et al. (2021). Associated Autoimmunity and Lead Exposure in Childhood. International Journal of Immunology, 9(1), 16-21. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14

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    ACS Style

    Deyanira Pacheco-Tovar; María-Guadalupe Pacheco-Tovar; Esperanza Avalos-Díaz; Juan-José Bollain-y-Goytia; María-Elena Pérez-Pérez, et al. Associated Autoimmunity and Lead Exposure in Childhood. Int. J. Immunol. 2021, 9(1), 16-21. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14

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    AMA Style

    Deyanira Pacheco-Tovar, María-Guadalupe Pacheco-Tovar, Esperanza Avalos-Díaz, Juan-José Bollain-y-Goytia, María-Elena Pérez-Pérez, et al. Associated Autoimmunity and Lead Exposure in Childhood. Int J Immunol. 2021;9(1):16-21. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14,
      author = {Deyanira Pacheco-Tovar and María-Guadalupe Pacheco-Tovar and Esperanza Avalos-Díaz and Juan-José Bollain-y-Goytia and María-Elena Pérez-Pérez and Roxana Ramírez-Sandoval and Argelia López-Luna and Rafael Herrera-Esparza},
      title = {Associated Autoimmunity and Lead Exposure in Childhood},
      journal = {International Journal of Immunology},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {16-21},
      doi = {10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.iji.20210901.14},
      abstract = {Background: The autoimmunity associated with environmental pollutants such as heavy metals is a phenomenon that has been described previously. The aim of the present study investigated the relationship between autoimmunity and lead pollutants in a cohort of children who lived in a mining settlement. Methods: Children were studied clinically and serologically. The serum lead concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, and antinuclear antibodies were analysed by immunofluorescence, ELISA and Western blot. Results: None of the studied children displayed any autoimmune disease. The lead concentration in the control group was negligible, at 0.10 ± 011 μg. L-1. In contrast, the study group had values of 12.72 ± 0.5 μg. L-1. The differences between the groups were significant (p < 0.0001). In addition, control sera were negative for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), while the sera of children living near the mining settlement showed ANA-positive titres (p < 0.001). These autoantibodies mainly recognized antigens associated with dividing cells, such as the mitotic apparatus and centrioles. Conclusion: The present results show how metallic pollutants induce environmentally associated autoimmunity and are reflected by antinuclear antibodies. This research should prompt us to take greater caution and implement permanent monitoring to ensure a healthy environment.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Associated Autoimmunity and Lead Exposure in Childhood
    AU  - Deyanira Pacheco-Tovar
    AU  - María-Guadalupe Pacheco-Tovar
    AU  - Esperanza Avalos-Díaz
    AU  - Juan-José Bollain-y-Goytia
    AU  - María-Elena Pérez-Pérez
    AU  - Roxana Ramírez-Sandoval
    AU  - Argelia López-Luna
    AU  - Rafael Herrera-Esparza
    Y1  - 2021/03/26
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14
    T2  - International Journal of Immunology
    JF  - International Journal of Immunology
    JO  - International Journal of Immunology
    SP  - 16
    EP  - 21
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2329-1753
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20210901.14
    AB  - Background: The autoimmunity associated with environmental pollutants such as heavy metals is a phenomenon that has been described previously. The aim of the present study investigated the relationship between autoimmunity and lead pollutants in a cohort of children who lived in a mining settlement. Methods: Children were studied clinically and serologically. The serum lead concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, and antinuclear antibodies were analysed by immunofluorescence, ELISA and Western blot. Results: None of the studied children displayed any autoimmune disease. The lead concentration in the control group was negligible, at 0.10 ± 011 μg. L-1. In contrast, the study group had values of 12.72 ± 0.5 μg. L-1. The differences between the groups were significant (p < 0.0001). In addition, control sera were negative for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), while the sera of children living near the mining settlement showed ANA-positive titres (p < 0.001). These autoantibodies mainly recognized antigens associated with dividing cells, such as the mitotic apparatus and centrioles. Conclusion: The present results show how metallic pollutants induce environmentally associated autoimmunity and are reflected by antinuclear antibodies. This research should prompt us to take greater caution and implement permanent monitoring to ensure a healthy environment.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

  • Department of Immunology/ Academic Unit of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico

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