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Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil

Background: Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with neurodevelopmental and immune system effects. An informative biomarker of Hg-induced immunotoxicity could aid studies on the potential contribution to immune-related health effects. Objectives: Our objectives were to test the hy...

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Autores principales: Nyland, Jennifer F., Fillion, Myriam, Barbosa, Fernando, Shirley, Devon L., Chine, Chiameka, Lemire, Melanie, Mergler, Donna, Silbergeld, Ellen K.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3261989/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21868305
http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103741
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author Nyland, Jennifer F.
Fillion, Myriam
Barbosa, Fernando
Shirley, Devon L.
Chine, Chiameka
Lemire, Melanie
Mergler, Donna
Silbergeld, Ellen K.
author_facet Nyland, Jennifer F.
Fillion, Myriam
Barbosa, Fernando
Shirley, Devon L.
Chine, Chiameka
Lemire, Melanie
Mergler, Donna
Silbergeld, Ellen K.
author_sort Nyland, Jennifer F.
collection PubMed
description Background: Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with neurodevelopmental and immune system effects. An informative biomarker of Hg-induced immunotoxicity could aid studies on the potential contribution to immune-related health effects. Objectives: Our objectives were to test the hypothesis that methylmercury (MeHg) exposures affect levels of serum biomarkers and to examine interactions between Hg and selenium (Se) in terms of these responses. Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study assessed adults living along the Tapajós River, a system long affected by MeHg. We measured antinuclear (ANA) and antinucleolar (ANoA) autoantibody levels and eight cytokines in serum samples (n = 232). Total Hg (including MeHg) and Se were measured in blood, plasma, hair, and urine. Results: The median (range) total Hg concentrations were 14.1 μg/g (1.1–62.4), 53.5 μg/L (4.3–288.9), 8.8 μg/L (0.2–40), and 3.0 μg/L (0.2–16.1) for hair, blood, plasma, and urine, respectively. Elevated titers of ANA (but not ANoA) were positively associated with MeHg exposure (log-transformed, for blood and plasma), unadjusted [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 6.2] and adjusted for sex and age (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 7.5). Proinflammatory [interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-©], anti-inflammatory (IL-4), and IL-17 cytokine levels were increased with MeHg exposure; however, in the subset of the population with elevated ANA, proinflammatory IL-1®, IL-6, IFN-©, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-〈 and anti-inflammatory (IL-4) cytokine levels were decreased with MeHg exposure. Although Se status was associated with MeHg level (correlation coefficient = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.29, 1.43), Se status was not associated with any changes in ANA and did not modify associations between Hg and ANA titers. Conclusions: MeHg exposure was associated with an increased ANA and changes in serum cytokine profile. Moreover, alterations in serum cytokine profiles differed based on ANA response, suggesting a specific phenotype of MeHg susceptibility. Further research on the potential health implications of these observed immunological changes is warranted.
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spelling pubmed-32619892012-01-20 Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil Nyland, Jennifer F. Fillion, Myriam Barbosa, Fernando Shirley, Devon L. Chine, Chiameka Lemire, Melanie Mergler, Donna Silbergeld, Ellen K. Environ Health Perspect Research Background: Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with neurodevelopmental and immune system effects. An informative biomarker of Hg-induced immunotoxicity could aid studies on the potential contribution to immune-related health effects. Objectives: Our objectives were to test the hypothesis that methylmercury (MeHg) exposures affect levels of serum biomarkers and to examine interactions between Hg and selenium (Se) in terms of these responses. Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study assessed adults living along the Tapajós River, a system long affected by MeHg. We measured antinuclear (ANA) and antinucleolar (ANoA) autoantibody levels and eight cytokines in serum samples (n = 232). Total Hg (including MeHg) and Se were measured in blood, plasma, hair, and urine. Results: The median (range) total Hg concentrations were 14.1 μg/g (1.1–62.4), 53.5 μg/L (4.3–288.9), 8.8 μg/L (0.2–40), and 3.0 μg/L (0.2–16.1) for hair, blood, plasma, and urine, respectively. Elevated titers of ANA (but not ANoA) were positively associated with MeHg exposure (log-transformed, for blood and plasma), unadjusted [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 6.2] and adjusted for sex and age (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 7.5). Proinflammatory [interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-©], anti-inflammatory (IL-4), and IL-17 cytokine levels were increased with MeHg exposure; however, in the subset of the population with elevated ANA, proinflammatory IL-1®, IL-6, IFN-©, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-〈 and anti-inflammatory (IL-4) cytokine levels were decreased with MeHg exposure. Although Se status was associated with MeHg level (correlation coefficient = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.29, 1.43), Se status was not associated with any changes in ANA and did not modify associations between Hg and ANA titers. Conclusions: MeHg exposure was associated with an increased ANA and changes in serum cytokine profile. Moreover, alterations in serum cytokine profiles differed based on ANA response, suggesting a specific phenotype of MeHg susceptibility. Further research on the potential health implications of these observed immunological changes is warranted. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2011-08-25 2011-12 /pmc/articles/PMC3261989/ /pubmed/21868305 http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103741 Text en http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ Publication of EHP lies in the public domain and is therefore without copyright. All text from EHP may be reprinted freely. Use of materials published in EHP should be acknowledged (for example, ?Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives?); pertinent reference information should be provided for the article from which the material was reproduced. Articles from EHP, especially the News section, may contain photographs or illustrations copyrighted by other commercial organizations or individuals that may not be used without obtaining prior approval from the holder of the copyright.
spellingShingle Research
Nyland, Jennifer F.
Fillion, Myriam
Barbosa, Fernando
Shirley, Devon L.
Chine, Chiameka
Lemire, Melanie
Mergler, Donna
Silbergeld, Ellen K.
Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil
title Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil
title_full Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil
title_fullStr Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil
title_short Biomarkers of Methylmercury Exposure Immunotoxicity among Fish Consumers in Amazonian Brazil
title_sort biomarkers of methylmercury exposure immunotoxicity among fish consumers in amazonian brazil
topic Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3261989/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21868305
http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103741
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