Urinary Metals Concentrations and Biomarkers of Autoimmunity among Navajo and Nicaraguan Men.
Madeleine K ScammellCaryn SennettRebecca L LawsRobert L RubinDaniel R BrooksJuan José AmadorDamaris López-PilarteOriana Ramirez-RubioDavid J FriedmanMichael D McCleanNavajo Birth Cohort Study TeamJohnnye LewisEsther ErdeiPublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2020)
Metals are suspected contributors of autoimmune disease among indigenous Americans. However, the association between metals exposure and biomarkers of autoimmunity is under-studied. In Nicaragua, environmental exposure to metals is also largely unexamined with regard to autoimmunity. We analyzed pooled and stratified exposure and outcome data from Navajo (n = 68) and Nicaraguan (n = 47) men of similar age and health status in order to characterize urinary concentrations of metals, compare concentrations with the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) male population, and examine the associations with biomarkers of autoimmunity. Urine samples were analyzed for metals via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Serum samples were examined for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) at 1:160 and 1:40 dilutions, using an indirect immunofluorescence assay and for specific autoantibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Logistic regression analyses evaluated associations of urinary metals with autoimmune biomarkers, adjusted for group (Navajo or Nicaraguan), age, and seafood consumption. The Nicaraguan men had higher urinary metal concentrations compared with both NHANES and the Navajo for most metals; however, tin was highest among the Navajo, and uranium was much higher in both populations compared with NHANES. Upper tertile associations with ANA positivity at the 1:160 dilution were observed for barium, cesium, lead, strontium and tungsten.
Keyphrases
- human health
- health risk
- health risk assessment
- mass spectrometry
- risk assessment
- multiple sclerosis
- heavy metals
- drinking water
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- randomized controlled trial
- middle aged
- machine learning
- liquid chromatography
- high throughput
- ms ms
- gas chromatography
- artificial intelligence
- celiac disease
- capillary electrophoresis
- deep learning
- liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
- single cell
- tandem mass spectrometry