Pollution Exposure Breaks Down Blood Brain Barrier
Pollution research paper
New research publication (ahead of print) by Micro Trace Minerals (MTM),
Germany and Trace Minerals International (TMI), Boulder, Colorado in
cooperation with Prof Lilian Calderon of The Center for Structural and Functional
Neurosciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA and other notable
university faculties shows pollution exposure breaks down blood brain barrier. All
metal testing was done and funded by MTM and TMI.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2014 Aug 21. [Epub ahead of print]
Air Pollution and Children: Neural and Tight Junction Antibodies and Combustion
Metals, the Role of Barrier Breakdown and Brain Immunity in Neurodegeneration.
Calderón-Garcidueñas L1, Vojdani A2, Blaurock-Busch E3, Busch Y3, Friedle
A3, Franco-Lira M4, Sarathi-Mukherjee P5, Park SB6, Torres-Jardón R7,
D'Angiulli A6.
Author information
1. The Center for Structural and Functional Neurosciences, The University of
Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
2. Immunosciences Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
3. Clinical and Environmental Laboratory Micro Trace Minerals (MTM),
Hersbruck, Germany.
4. Hospital Central Militar, Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional, Mexico City,
Mexico.
5. Mathematics Department, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA.
6. NICER Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada.
7. Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México, Mexico City, Mexico.
Abstract
Millions of children are exposed to concentrations of air pollutants, including fine
particulate matter (PM2.5), above safety standards. Mexico City Metropolitan Area
(MCMA) megacity children show an early brain imbalance in oxidative stress,
inflammation, innate and adaptive immune response-associated genes, and bloodbrain barrier breakdown. We investigated serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
antibodies to neural and tight junction proteins and environmental pollutants in 139
children ages 11.91 ± 4.2 y with high versus low air pollution exposures. We also
measured metals in serum and CSF. MCMA children showed significantly higher
serum actin IgG, occludin/zonulin 1 IgA, IgG, myelin oligodendrocyte
glycoprotein IgG and IgM (p < 0.01), myelin basic protein IgA and IgG, S-100 IgG
and IgM, and cerebellar IgG (p < 0.001). Serum IgG antibodies to formaldehyde,
benzene, and bisphenol A, and concentrations of Ni and Cd were significantly
higher in exposed children (p < 0.001). CSF MBP antibodies and nickel
concentrations were higher in MCMA children (p = 0.03). Air pollution exposure
damages epithelial and endothelial barriers and is a robust trigger of tight junction
and neural antibodies. Cryptic 'self' tight junction antigens can trigger an
autoimmune response potentially contributing to the neuroinflammatory and
Alzheimer and Parkinson's pathology hallmarks present in megacity children. The
major factor determining the impact of neural antibodies is the integrity of the
blood-brain barrier. Defining the air pollution linkage of the brain/immune system
interactions and damage to physical and immunological barriers with short and
long term neural detrimental effects to children's brains ought to be of pressing
importance for public health.
KEYWORDS:
Air pollution; Alzheimer's disease; children; innate and adaptive immunity;
neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation; particulate matter; tight junction and
neural reactive autoantibodies
Dr. E.Blaurock-Busch PhD / Research Direktor
Labor f. umweltmedizinische Untersuchungen / Laboratory f. Clinical and
Environmental Analysis
MTM Micro Trace Minerals GmbH- Amtsgericht Nuernberg: HRB 21937
Director/Geschaeftsfuehrerin: Yvette Busch
Mitglied/member: British Society of Ecological Medicine
Wissenschaftl. Berater / Scientific Advisor:
Deutsche Ärztegesellschaft für Klinische Metalltoxikologie / German Medical
Association of Clinical Metal Toxicology
International Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology (IBCMT)
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