Impact of Heavy Metals on Host Cells: Special Focus on Nickel-Mediated Pathologies and Novel Interventional Approaches.

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets

Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sensory Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Published: June 2021

AI Article Synopsis

  • Heavy metals like nickel (Ni) are environmental pollutants that can severely damage human cells and organs, with a focus on their role in triggering inflammation through interactions with immune receptors.
  • Therapeutic strategies, particularly the use of polyphenols, show promise in reducing inflammatory responses and balancing immune reactions caused by Ni exposure, aiding patients with Ni sensitivities.
  • Ultimately, nutrition-based approaches, especially those incorporating polyphenols, may offer effective treatments for damages induced by heavy metals, underscoring the need for further exploration of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Article Abstract

Background: Heavy metals [arsenic, aluminium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, nickel (Ni), palladium and titanium] are environmental contaminants able to impact with host human cells, thus, leading to severe damage.

Objective: In this review, the detrimental effects of several heavy metals on human organs will be discussed and special emphasis will be placed on Ni. In particular, Ni is able to interact with Toll-like receptor-4 on immune and non-immune cells, thus, triggering the cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Then, inflammatory and allergic reactions mediated by Ni will be illustrated within different organs, even including the central nervous system, airways and the gastrointestinal system.

Discussion: Different therapeutic strategies have been adopted to mitigate Ni-induced inflammatoryallergic reactions. In this context, the ability of polyphenols to counteract the inflammatory pathway induced by Ni on peripheral blood leukocytes from Ni-sensitized patients will be outlined. In particular, polyphenols are able to decrease serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17, while increasing levels of IL- 10. These data suggest that the equilibrium between T regulatory cells and T helper 17 cells is recovered with IL-10 acting as an anti-inflammatory cytokine. In the same context, polyphenols reduced elevated serum levels of nitric oxide, thus, expressing their anti-oxidant potential. Finally, the carcinogenic potential of heavy metals, even including Ni, will be highlighted.

Conclusion: Heavy metals, particularly Ni, are spread in the environment. Nutritional approaches seem to represent a novel option in the treatment of Ni-induced damage and, among them, polyphenols should be taken into consideration for their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530319666191129120253DOI Listing

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