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Asbestos Exposure and Autoimmunity

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Book cover Biological Effects of Fibrous and Particulate Substances

Abstract

Inflammation and immune dysfunction occur with inhalation exposure to fibrous (asbestiform) silicon oxide dusts. As research delves deeper, it is clear that despite some commonalities in the responses to mineral fibers, there appear to be distinct differences in the specific nature of the dysfunction elicited by various fibers that leads ultimately to fiber-specific disease outcomes. A growing body of evidence supports an association between asbestos exposure and autoimmune responses such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA). However, there is limited epidemiological support for an association between asbestos exposure and any specific autoimmune disease. While there are several possible reasons for this, recent data strongly suggests that a key factor lies in the physical chemistry of the fibers themselves, requiring comparative studies of different fiber types. In order to illustrate the importance of this premise, this chapter explores the current data comparing the autoantibody responses following amphibole exposure with those seen following chrysotile exposure. Both human and mouse data suggest that amphibole, but not chrysotile, increases the frequency of positive ANA tests and may increase the risk for systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Asbestiform amphibole also drives production of pathogenic autoantibodies against mesothelial cells that appear to contribute to a severe and progressive pleural fibrosis. While occupational asbestos exposures may be decreasing, environmental exposures are on the rise as evidenced by multiple recent discoveries of naturally occurring asbestos. These findings emphasize the need for renewed efforts toward screening and understanding fiber-specific disease manifestations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the intellectual contributions of the Libby Epidemiology Research Program (LERP): Icahn School of Medicine at Sinai including Raja Flores MD and Jaime Szeinuk MD; rheumatology consultant Roger Diegel, MD, Kalispell MT; and the Center for Asbestos Related Diseases, Brad Black MD. This work was funded in part by the LERP Grant from CDC/ATSDR TS000099-01 and by the Idaho COBRE P20 GM103408. We dedicate this work in the memory of Dr. Stephen Levin, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, whose insights and vision spearheaded this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Ave, Stop 8007, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA

    Jean C. Pfau Ph.D. & Linda Woods

  2. Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC, 28754, USA

    Kinta Serve

  3. University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA

    Curtis Noonan

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  1. Jean C. Pfau Ph.D.
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  2. Kinta Serve
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Correspondence to Jean C. Pfau Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan

    Takemi Otsuki

  2. Dept. of Toxicology and Safety Science Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Yasuo Yoshioka

  3. Center for Env. Health Sciences University of Montana, Missoula, Minnesota, USA

    Andrij Holian

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Pfau, J.C., Serve, K., Woods, L., Noonan, C. (2016). Asbestos Exposure and Autoimmunity. In: Otsuki, T., Yoshioka, Y., Holian, A. (eds) Biological Effects of Fibrous and Particulate Substances. Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55732-6_10

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