Potential mechanisms of some selected heavy metals in the induction of inflammation and autoimmunity

Abstract

Inflammation is a physiological event that protects tissues from infection and injury. Chronic inflammation causes immune cell over activation and sustained release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines cause pathologic conditions including autoimmune diseases. Heavy metals exposure affects innate and adaptive immune systems through triggering inflammatory responses. It seems that extended inflammatory responses could accelerate heavy metal-induced autoimmunity. In the present review we discuss the exposure route and toxicity of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Vanadium (V) and Platinum (Pt) and their effects on inflammatory responses by innate and adaptive immune system and autoimmunity.

Metals on the Menu—Analyzing the Presence, Importance, and Consequences

“…Lead bioaccumulation has also been associated with harmful effects on the immune system, leading to inflammation [ 24 ]. It can disrupt immune cells’ production and function, impairing innate and adaptive immune responses.…”

“…They are implicated in an increased risk of various cancers by interfering with key transcription factors [ 22 , 23 ]. Moreover, heavy metals can impair the immune system, reducing cell function and increasing infection risks [ 24 ]. They also adversely affect the cardiovascular system, contributing to major cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and atherosclerosis, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

RNA sequencing provides insights into the effect of dietary ingestion of microplastics and cadmium in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

“…Abnormal inflammatory reaction is an important link of cell and tissue damage caused by heavy metals (Fagerberg et al, 2017). Cd has always been considered as a kind of xenobiotics related to inflammation, because it can induce complex inflammatory reactions in a variety of cell types (Anka et al, 2022). After Cd exposure for 9 weeks, the expression of two enzymes associated to inflammation, cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2), and iNOS in mice increased significantly.…”

Metabolomics: a promising tool for deciphering metabolic impairment in heavy metal toxicities

“…Accumulation of heavy metals may lead to several neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease ( Montgomery, 1995 ; Vellingiri et al, 2022 ), Alzheimer’s disease ( Kitazawa et al, 2009 ; Kabir et al, 2021 ), and related dementias ( Bakulski et al, 2020 ), resulting in the loss of homeostatic regulation, neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis ( Huat et al, 2019 ; Alquezar et al, 2020 ). The immune function is also compromised by exposure to heavy metals, leading to changes in major immune effector cells and expression of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines ( Dong et al, 1998 ; Bonaventura et al, 2018 ; Hossein-Khannazer et al, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2021 ), autoimmunity ( Rowley and Monestier, 2005 ; Anka et al, 2022 ), increased allergies ( Büdinger and Hertl, 2000 ; Vas and Monestier, 2008 ; Riedel et al, 2021 ), hematological cancers ( Kim et al, 2015 ; Chen et al, 2016 ; Gianì et al, 2021 ; Kiani et al, 2021 ; Vincent Salvatore and Juley, 2021 ), immunosuppression ( Jadhav et al, 2007 ; Jin et al, 2020 ), and diseases involving opportunistic pathogens ( Lokuge et al, 2004 ; Krueger and Wade, 2016 ; Eggers et al, 2018 ; Vats et al, 2022 ) and parasites ( El-Hak et al, 2022 ).…”