The Neurological Significance of Abnormal Natural Killer Cell Activity in Chronic Toxigenic Mold Exposures

Abstract

Toxigenic mold activities produce metabolites that are either broad-spectrum antibiotics or mycotoxins that are cytotoxic. Indoor environmental exposure to these toxigenic molds leads to adverse health conditions with the main outcome measure of frequent neuroimmunologic and behavioral consequences. One of the immune system disorders found in patients presenting with toxigenic mold exposure is an abnormal natural killer cell activity. This paper presents an overview of the neurological significance of abnormal natural killer cell (NKC) activity in chronic toxigenic mold exposure. A comprehensive review of the literature was carried out to evaluate and assess the conditions under which the immune system could be dysfunctionally interfered with leading to abnormal NKC activity and the involvement of mycotoxins in these processes. The functions, mechanism, the factors that influence NKC activities, and the roles of mycotoxins in NKCs were cited wherever necessary. The major presentations are headache, general debilitating pains, nose bleeding, fevers with body temperatures up to 40° C (104°F), cough, memory loss, depression, mood swings, sleep disturbances, anxiety, chronic fatigue, vertigo/dizziness, and in some cases, seizures. Although sleep is commonly considered a restorative process that is important for the proper functioning of the immune system, it could be disturbed by mycotoxins. Most likely, mycotoxins exert some rigorous effects on the circadian rhythmic processes resulting in sleep deprivation to which an acute and transient increase in NKC activity is observed. Depression, psychological stress, tissue injuries, malignancies, carcinogenesis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis could be induced at very low physiological concentrations by mycotoxin-induced NKC activity. In the light of this review, it is concluded that chronic exposures to toxigenic mold could lead to abnormal NKC activity with a wide range of neurological consequences, some of which were headache, general debilitating pains, fever, cough, memory loss, depression, mood swings, sleep disturbances, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and seizures.

Occurrence of fungi and cytotoxicity of the species: Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from the air of hospital wards

“…On the basis of the obtained cytotoxicity assessment results of the extracts from the spores of 9 moulds, Schultz et al draws the conclusions on the potential risk for health as the result of the toxic influence after a significant inhalation of a large number of mould spores [21]. Similar observations may be found in the works of Anyanwu et al [5] and Pieckova [6], mentioned in the foreword for this article.…”

“…Although species of Aspergillus non fumigatus, such as: A. flavus, A. ochraceus, A. niger, A. versicolor or A. terreus, are rarely aetiology factors of infections, they may be highly toxic [1][2][3][4]. It might be proven by other written sources that fungi belonging to Aspergillus fumigatus species are characterized by the highest toxicity among all the species belonging to this genus [5,6]. Aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A as well as gliotoxin produced by the fungi belonging to A. fumigatus species are found to be responsible for such high toxicity.…”

“…However, it is generally agreed that the mould incidence in the buildings is unhealthy and in residential premises measures must be taken to limit mould development. Some researchers suggest that long-term exposition to toxigenic moulds may lead to disrupted natural killer (NK) cell activity displaying a whole range of neurological symptoms such as: headaches, general debilitating, fever, cough, memory loss, depression, mood swings, sleep disturbances, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and seizures [5]. Pieckova [6] underlines the importance of research regarding the mechanisms of the adverse effects of airborne moulds in the buildings over human health.…”

Women Farmers’ (Dis)Empowerment Compared to Men Farmers in Ethiopia

“…Women in our study attributed specific health problems they experience to their (women's) disproportionate consumption of damaged grains and exposure to toxic mold and chemicals associated with post‐harvest losses/activities. Notably, the women's health complaints fit with findings from epidemiological studies, which note similar presentations common to patients exposed to mycotoxins and these presentations include: liver problems, coughing, cancer in the respiratory system, chronic fatigue, headaches, and more (Anyanwu, Campbell, Jones, Ehiri, & Akpan ; Rheeder et al, ; Shephard, ). As such, our study supports several aforementioned studies that find mycotoxins play a negative role with regards to nutrition and health outcomes.…”

Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology: clinical implications

“…In stressed students, a short period (minutes) of preparation for a written exam induced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which could be related to a Th1 response. Nevertheless, prolonged mental stress (of several days) caused deregulation of immune function, with a change in the cytokine response to a Th2 response.Anyanwu E et al 2003 [117]Abnormal NK cell activity was found in patients exposed to toxigenic materials, leading to adverse health conditions, including a wide range of neuroimmune and behavioral consequences.Ho C et al 2001 [118]Measurable changes in dendritic cell abundance were observed in patients undergoing surgery. These cells were rapidly mobilized in the circulation in response to surgical stress, and this activity may prepare host immune defenses against trauma.Woiciechowsky C et al 1998 [119]In patients with sympathetic activation due to acute accidental brain trauma, rapid systemic release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10 from non-stimulated monocytes occurs.…”