Metal-induced autoimmunity in neurological disorders: A review of current understanding and future directions.

Autor: Bjørklund G; Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway. Electronic address: bjorklund@conem.org., Đorđević AB; Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia., Hamdan H; Department of Pharmacology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States., Wallace DR; Department of Pharmacology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States., Peana M; Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: peana@uniss.it.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Autoimmunity reviews [Autoimmun Rev] 2024 Mar; Vol. 23 (3), pp. 103509. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Dec 28.
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103509
Abstrakt: Autoimmunity is a multifaceted disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and metal exposure has been implicated as a potential catalyst, especially in autoimmune diseases affecting the central nervous system. Notably, metals like mercury, lead, and aluminum exhibit well-established neurotoxic effects, yet the precise mechanisms by which they elicit autoimmune responses in susceptible individuals remain unclear. Recent studies propose that metal-induced autoimmunity may arise from direct toxic effects on immune cells and tissues, coupled with indirect impacts on the gut microbiome and the blood-brain barrier. These effects can activate self-reactive T cells, prompting the production of autoantibodies, inflammatory responses, and tissue damage. Diagnosing metal-induced autoimmunity proves challenging due to nonspecific symptoms and a lack of reliable biomarkers. Treatment typically involves chelation therapy to eliminate excess metals and immunomodulatory agents to suppress autoimmune responses. Prevention strategies include lifestyle adjustments to reduce metal exposure and avoiding occupational and environmental risks. Prognosis is generally favorable with proper treatment; however, untreated cases may lead to autoimmune disorder progression and irreversible organ damage, particularly in the brain. Future research aims to identify genetic and environmental risk factors, enhance diagnostic precision, and explore novel treatment approaches for improved prevention and management of this intricate and debilitating disease.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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