Background and Aims

The loss of the ability of the immune system to recognize “self” antigens mounts an immune response against one’s own tissues and cells, hence autoimmunity. Specific environmental triggers include both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Of those factors; dietary factors, infections, smoking, stress, and chemicals have been shown to influence disease etiopathogenesis.

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements with high atomic density. Their wide distribution stems from their widespread use in industry, medical and technological fields. Heavy metals exert an important biochemical and physiological function in the human body. They are considered important constituents of several key enzymes and thus play an important role in oxidation-reduction reactions. Nevertheless, at high doses, heavy metals could have detrimental effects resulting in epigenetic modifications, reactive oxygen species production, activation of the innate and adaptive immune cells, and shifting the cytokine expression to proinflammatory profile. Current scientific evidence points towards the role of heavy metals in the exacerbation of various autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Similarly, heavy metals were shown to be associated with the induction of autoimmune disease in animal models. Interestingly, Aluminum which has been used as an adjuvant was shown to activate both arms of the immune system thus resulting in a hyperinflammatory response. Aluminum accumulation has been shown to be associated with autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, system lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis among others.

Methods

This is a review

Results

This is a review

Conclusions

This is a review