Autoimmune antibodies and asbestos exposure: Evidence from Wittenoom, Western Australia

Reid, Alison; Franklin, Peter; Klerk, Nicholas de; Creaney, Jenette; Brims, Fraser; Musk, Bill; Pfau, Jean C.

doi:10.1002/ajim.22863

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…But the previous studies have revealed that some autoantibodies tend to more present in the asbestos-exposed group even without autoimmune diseases [ 8 , 14 - 20 ]. Few studies have investigated the relationship with asbestos and the titers of antibodies, but these have shown increased RF or ANA titers in asbestos-exposed groups [ 14 , 15 , 17 , 19 - 21 , 27 ]. These studies have also shown that higher ANA positive rates in groups with asbestos exposure were associated with severity or faster progression of lung disease [ 15 , 28 - 31 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ANA titer and IgA levels were also significantly higher [ 15 ]. In Western Australia's Wittenoom mining site where the asbestos mine is located, and the mortality rate from malignant mesothelioma is high [ 16 ], an analysis of the ANA in this cohort showed that Wittenoom residents were approximately 5 times more ANA positive than control group, and the ANA titer was also high [ 17 ]. Additionally, in the population-based case-control study of the Swedish population, asbestos exposure increased the risk of seropositive RA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0–1.4) and seronegative RA (OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0–1.5) in male workers [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Asbestos exposure and autoantibody titers

Lee

Kim

et al. 2020

Ann Occup Environ Med

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Background: Asbestos is a well-known hazardous substance that causes occupational and environmental diseases including asbestosis (lung fibrosis). Silica exposure which causes silicosis (another type of lung fibrosis) has long been linked to the development of autoimmune diseases; however, there are few studies on the relationship between asbestos exposure and autoimmune diseases. Methods: A total of 54 individuals who had worked in a former asbestos textile factory underwent autoantibody-related blood tests, chest X-ray imaging, and pulmonary function tests. Based on the job exposure matrix (JEM), the estimated asbestos exposure concentrations were determined, and the presence of asbestosis was determined by chest radiography. Results: Scleroderma (Scl-70) and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibodies were significantly lowered in the pleural plaque present group than in the absent group. Additionally, Scl-70, RNP, and Sjögren's syndrome type B (SS-B) antibodies were significantly lowered in the asbestosis present group. When stratifying variables with or without asbestosis, Scl-70, Smith, SS-B, and RNP antibodies decreased in female, crocidolite handling group, and higher estimated asbestos exposure level group. Conclusions: Contrary to our expectations that autoantibody titers would be higher in groups with high asbestos exposure or in the asbestosis group, those with asbestosis showed lower titers. But as our research has some methodological limitations, the lowered titer of autoimmune antibody in our asbestos exposed subjects could not be simply interpreted as a lowered risk of autoimmune diseases. So careful interpreting should be taken when examine autoantibodies to screening or diagnose autoimmune diseases in people with asbestos exposure. In addition, it is necessary to establish relevance of asbestosis and autoantibodies through further studies of larger scale and higher confidence levels.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asbestos exposure and autoantibody titers

Lee

Kim

et al. 2020

Ann Occup Environ Med

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“…In this regard, some groups are conducting research using asbestos-exposed individuals or animal models of autoimmune diseases, and it is expected that the results will be forthcoming. Th17 cells seem to be more strongly involved in the breakdown of self-tolerance rather than anti-tumor immunity [ 56 , 57 , 58 ]. This area requires extensive further investigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Asbestos Fibers on Human T Cells

Kumagai-Τakei

Lee

Srinivas

et al. 2020

IJMS

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Asbestos exposure causes malignant tumors such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. The effects of asbestos fibers on immunocompetent cells, however, have not been well studied. Asbestos physically comprises a fibrous substance, which differs from silica particles which are a particulate substance, although chemically it is a mineral silicate. Since silicosis patients previously exposed to silica particles often suffer from lung and autoimmune diseases, it is clear that silica exposure impairs immune tolerance. Similarly, asbestos may alter the immune system in asbestos-exposed individuals. Given that malignant tumors can result following exposure to asbestos, the attenuation of anti-tumor immunity in cases of asbestos exposure is an important area of investigation. We observed the effect of asbestos fibers on T lymphocytes, such as CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), CD4+ helper T (Th), and regulatory T (Treg) cells, and showed that anti-tumor immunity was attenuated, as demonstrated in a system that stimulates fresh cells isolated from peripheral blood in vitro and a system that is continuously exposed to a cell line. In this manuscript, we introduce the experiments and results of studies on CTLs, as well as Th and Treg cells, and discuss how future changes in immunocompetent cells induced by asbestos fibers can be clinically linked.

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“…First, it is an approach to fulfilling criteria needed for proposing that LAA, like crystalline silica, is an environmental trigger for systemic autoimmune disease by providing comparative data with another exposure (Miller, et al 2012b). Multiple large epidemiological studies were needed to make the case that crystalline silica is a trigger for SAID (Miller, et al 2012a), and there simply are no large cohorts for amphibole asbestos exposures in order to conduct similar experiments for amphibole asbestos, with the possible exception of the Wittenoom crocidolite exposure cohorts in Western Australia (Berry, et al 2012) where current studies are underway (Reid, et al 2018). There are currently few occupational exposure cohorts, and more environmental asbestos exposures, with the latter being more difficult to track subjects or assess exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of autoantibody profiles in two asbestiform fiber exposure cohorts

Pfau

Barbour

Black

et al. 2018

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

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An increased risk for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases (SAID) was reported in the population of Libby, Montana, where extensive exposure to asbestiform amphiboles occurred through mining and use of asbestiform fiber-laden vermiculite. High frequencies of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA) were detected in individuals and mice exposed to Libby Asbestiform Amphiboles (LAA). Among the 6603 individuals who have undergone health screening at the Center for Asbestos Related Diseases (CARD, Libby MT), the frequencies of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, and systemic sclerosis are significantly higher than expected prevalence in the United States. While these data support the hypothesis that LAA can trigger autoimmune responses, evidence suggests that chrysotile asbestos does not. Serological testing was therefore performed in subjects exposed to LAA or predominantly chrysotile (New York steamfitters) using multiplexed array technologies. Analyses were performed in order to determine a) autoantibody profiles in each cohort, and b) whether the two populations could be distinguished through predictive modeling. Analysis using perMANOVA testing confirmed a significant difference between autoantibody profiles suggesting differential pathways leading to autoantibody formation. ANA were more frequent in the LAA cohort. Specific autoantibodies more highly expressed with LAA-exposure were to histone, ribosomal P protein, Sm/Ribonucleoproteins, and Jo-1 (histidyl tRNA synthetase). Myositis autoantibodies more highly expressed in the LAA cohort were Jo-1, PM100, NXP2, and Mi2a. Predictive modeling demonstrated that anti-histone antibodies were most predictive for LAA exposure, and anti-Sm was predictive for the steamfitters' exposure. This emphasizes the need to consider fiber types when evaluating risk of SAID with asbestos exposure.

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Autoimmune antibodies and asbestos exposure: Evidence from Wittenoom, Western Australia

Cited by 10 publications

References 37 publications

Asbestos exposure and autoantibody titers

Asbestos exposure and autoantibody titers

The Effects of Asbestos Fibers on Human T Cells

Analysis of autoantibody profiles in two asbestiform fiber exposure cohorts

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