Chemical exposures and suspected impact on Gulf War Veterans

Abstract

Gulf War Illness (GWI) encompass a spectrum of maladies specific to troops deployed during the Persian Gulf War (1990–1991). There are several hypothesized factors believed to contribute to GWI, including (but not limited to) exposures to chemical agents and a foreign environment (e.g., dust, pollens, insects, and microbes). Moreover, the inherent stress associated with deployment and combat has been associated with GWI. While the etiology of GWI remains uncertain, several studies have provided strong evidence that chemical exposures, especially neurotoxicants, may be underlying factors for the development of GWI. This mini style perspective article will focus on some of the major evidence linking chemical exposures to GWI development and persistence decades after exposure.

Novel characterization of endogenous transient receptor potential melastatin 3 ion channels from Gulf War Illness participants

“…TRP channels are involved in oxidative stress, pain and inflammatory responses, while TRPM3 specifically in peripheral nociceptors have pronociceptive and pro-inflammatory properties [ 37 , 64 , 65 ]. Elhaj et al recently identified an increase in interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in GWI patients compared with other veterans without GWI, which is consistent with previous research [ 62 , 66 ] and corroborate the role of chronic neuroimmune and neuroinflammation disturbances [ 1 ].…”

“…Although animal studies are crucial tools for health research, results should not be extrapolated to humans. Principal limitations of animal models are genomic differences that studies evaluate on short term effects disregarding decades of GWI, and focusing on symptoms individually [ 1 , 77 , 79 ]. In contrast, our results are directly based on freshly isolated immune cells from veterans diagnosed with GWI compared to cells from HC.…”

Metabolomics and Self-Reported Depression, Anxiety, and Phobic Symptoms in the VA Normative Aging Study

“…Aminophenols are often metabolites of various toxic substances, suggesting higher exposure to fungicides and pesticides [ 34 ] that are harmful to human health. Veterans in particular have been studied in the context of increased pesticide exposure [ 35 ] and its many long-term health effects. Thus, our findings could provide additional evidence in support of the possibility that increased levels of these metabolites, such as 2-aminophenol sulfate, are associated with poorer health across several dimensions of mental health symptoms.…”

Recent Research Trends in Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Disorders

“…GWI is considered a neuroimmune disease and, currently, there is no cure for GWI [ 92 , 93 ]. GWI is most likely caused by exposure to toxic chemicals such as neurotoxins, pyridostigmine bromide (PB), and pathogens leading to environmental modifications of genetic profiles and xenobiotic metabolism in veterans [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 ]. Many symptoms of GWI are similar to those of autoimmune diseases, because the presence of autoantibodies against GFAP, MBP and tau has been reported in veterans with GWI than in controls [ 98 ].…”