Mercury exposure, serum antinuclear/antinucleolar antibodies, and serum cytokine levels in mining populations in Amazonian Brazil: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Mercury is an immunotoxic substance that has been shown to induce autoimmune disease in rodent models, characterized by lymphoproliferation, overproduction of immunoglobulin (IgG and IgE), and high circulating levels of autoantibodies directed at antigens located in the nucleus (anti-nuclear autoantibodies, or ANA) or the nucleolus (anti-nucleolar autoantibodies, or ANoA). We have reported elevated levels of ANA and ANoA in human populations exposed to mercury in artisanal gold mining, though other confounding variables that may also modulate ANA/ANoA levels were not well-controlled. The goal of this study is to specifically test whether occupational and environmental conditions (other than mercury exposure) that are associated with artisanal gold mining affect the prevalence of markers of autoimmune dysfunction. We measured ANA, ANoA, and cytokine concentrations in serum and compared results from mercury-exposed artisanal gold miners to those from diamond and emerald miners working under similar conditions and with similar socioeconomic status and risks of infectious disease. Mercury-exposed gold miners had higher prevalence of detectable ANA and ANoA and higher titers of ANA and ANoA as compared to diamond and emerald miners with no occupational mercury exposure. Also, mercury-exposed gold-miners with detectable ANA or ANoA in serum had significantly higher concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum as compared to the diamond and emerald miners. This study provides further evidence that mercury exposure may lead to autoimmune dysfunction and systemic inflammation in affected populations.

Collate the literature on toxicity data on mercury in experimental animals and humans (Part I – Data on organic mercury)

“…The European Food Safety Authority reserves its rights, view and position as regards the issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors. In a retrospective cross-sectional study from the same group Gardner and coworkers (Gardner et al, 2010) confirmed the results of Silva et al (2004). They found a higher prevalence of serum antinuclear (ANA) and antinucleolar (ANoA) antibodies in gold miners exposed to mercury, as compared with workers employed in other minerals mining with non-occupational exposure to mercury.…”

Heavy metal intoxication compromises the host cytokine response inAscaris Suummodel infection

“…Large and uncontrolled production of infl ammatory cytokines plays a key role in aetiology and development of autoimmune diseases (Hu et al, 1999). Also it can alter the host-pathogen interactions or increase the susceptibility to diseases (Gardner et al, 2010). Hemdan et al (2007) in vitro demonstrated differences in Hg effect on the Th1/Th2 balance after different cells stimulation.…”

Role of Environment and Sex Differences in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases: A Roundtable Meeting Report

“…[66][67][68][69] Mercury-exposed gold miners in Brazil were found to have higher levels of ANA antibodies compared with non-mercury miners, suggesting that mercury exposure can lead to antibody responses that are characteristic of autoimmunity. 70 Further, Dr. Monestier described divergent effects between female and male mice offspring following postnatal exposure of the mother to mercury, with female offspring exhibiting a decrease in regulatory T cells. He further stated that the biodistribution, toxiocokinetics, and mercury accumulation differ between the sexes, though this research area remains largely unexplored.…”