Emerging role of air pollution in autoimmune diseases

Publication date: Available online 5 April 2019Source: Autoimmunity ReviewsAuthor(s): Chan-Na Zhao, Zhiwei Xu, Guo-Cui Wu, Yan-Mei Mao, Li-Na Liu, Qian-Wu, Yi-Lin Dan, Sha-Sha Tao, Qin Zhang, Napoleon Bellua Sam, Yin-Guang Fan, Yan-Feng Zou, Dong-Qing Ye, Hai-Feng PanAbstractAutoimmune diseases (ADs) are a broad spectrum of disorders featured by the body's immune responses being directed against its own tissues, resulting in prolonged inflammation and subsequent tissue damage. Recently, the exposure to ambient air pollution has been implicated in the occurrence and development of ADs. Mechanisms linking air pollution exposures and ADs mainly include systemic inflammation, increased oxidative stress, epigenetic modifications induced by exposures and immune response caused by airway damage. The lung may be an autoimmunity initiation site in autoimmune diseases (ADs). Air pollutants can bind to the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) to regulate Th17 and Treg cells. Oxidative stress and inducible bronchus associated lymphoid tissue caused by the pollutants can influence T, B cells, resulting in the production of proinflammatory cytokines. These cytokines stimulate B cell and dendritic cells, resulting in a lot of antibodies and self-reactive T lymphocytes. Moreover, air pollutants may induce epigenetic changes to contribute to ADs. In this review, we will concern the associations between air pollution and immune–inflammatory responses, as well as mechanisms linking air pollution e...
Source: Autoimmunity Reviews - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research