Jitender Kumar1, P Monica Lind2, Samira Salihovic3, Bert van Bavel4, Kristina N Ekdahl5, Bo Nilsson6, Lars Lind3, Erik Ingelsson7. 1. Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Jitender.Kumar@medsci.uu.se. 2. Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 3. Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 4. MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. 5. Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden. 6. Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden. 7. Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic compounds generated through various industrial activities and have adverse effects on human health. Studies performed in cell cultures and animals have revealed that POPs can alter immune-system functioning. The complement system is part of innate immune system that helps to clear pathogens from the body. We performed a large-scale population-based study to find out associations between summary measures of different POPs and different complement system markers. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 16 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 organochlorine (OC) pesticides, octachloro-p-dibenzodioxin, and 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) were analyzed for their association with levels of protein complement 3 (C3), 3a (C3a), 4 (C4) and C3a/C3 ratio. A total of 992 individuals (all aged 70 years, 50% females) were recruited from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors cohort. Regression analysis adjusting for a variety of confounders was performed to study the associations of different POP exposures (total toxic equivalency value or TEQ and sum of 16 PCBs) with protein complements. RESULTS: The TEQ values were found to be positively associated with C3a (β=0.07, 95% CI=0.017-0.131, p=0.01) and C3a/C3 ratio (β=0.07, 95% CI=0.015-0.126, p=0.01) taking possible confounders into account. The association observed was mainly driven by PCB-126. CONCLUSION: In this study involving 992 elderly individuals from the general population, we showed that POPs, mainly PCB-126, were associated with levels of complement system markers indicating that the association of these toxic compounds with downstream disease could be mediated by activation of immune system.
BACKGROUND: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic compounds generated through various industrial activities and have adverse effects on human health. Studies performed in cell cultures and animals have revealed that POPs can alter immune-system functioning. The complement system is part of innate immune system that helps to clear pathogens from the body. We performed a large-scale population-based study to find out associations between summary measures of different POPs and different complement system markers. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 16 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 organochlorine (OC) pesticides, octachloro-p-dibenzodioxin, and 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) were analyzed for their association with levels of protein complement 3 (C3), 3a (C3a), 4 (C4) and C3a/C3 ratio. A total of 992 individuals (all aged 70 years, 50% females) were recruited from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors cohort. Regression analysis adjusting for a variety of confounders was performed to study the associations of different POP exposures (total toxic equivalency value or TEQ and sum of 16 PCBs) with protein complements. RESULTS: The TEQ values were found to be positively associated with C3a (β=0.07, 95% CI=0.017-0.131, p=0.01) and C3a/C3 ratio (β=0.07, 95% CI=0.015-0.126, p=0.01) taking possible confounders into account. The association observed was mainly driven by PCB-126. CONCLUSION: In this study involving 992 elderly individuals from the general population, we showed that POPs, mainly PCB-126, were associated with levels of complement system markers indicating that the association of these toxic compounds with downstream disease could be mediated by activation of immune system.
Authors: Ana Lúcia B Shimada; Wesley S Cruz; Rodrigo A Loiola; Carine C Drewes; Fabiane Dörr; Natália G Figueiredo; Ernani Pinto; Sandra H P Farsky Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2015-10-09 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Martha P Montgomery; Eric Postel; David M Umbach; Marie Richards; Mary Watson; Aaron Blair; Honglei Chen; Dale P Sandler; Silke Schmidt; Freya Kamel Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2017-07-19 Impact factor: 9.031