Heavy Metals Exposure and Risk of Autoimmune Diseases: A Review

Heavy metal exposure may lead to a variety of autoimmune diseases ranging from organ-specific to systemic disorders. Heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), silver (Ag) and lead (Pb) are associated with autoimmunity. The increased incidence of autoimmune diseases is due to an increase in industrial pollutants in the environment that contain high amount of heavy metals. Susceptibility to autoimmunity is determined by both heritable traits and environmental factors, and in this context it is possible that exposure to heavy metals may cause initiation and/or progression of autoimmune diseases. This review highlights the heavy metals exposure and cause of autoimmunity.

Keywords: Heavy metal; Autoimmunity; IgA; nephropathy; self-peptides.