Particulate Matter in Pollution Exacerbates Environmental Illness via the Nrf2 Pathway!

In the past, I have made several post on particulate matter and how pollution may negatively influence the main environmental illnesses chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivity. It is believe that what these conditions have in common is higher than normal oxidative stress and higher levels of inflammation. In addition, I believe that deficiencies in the Nrf2 pathway may exacerbate the conditions.

Through the discoveries from a study on dendritic cells, more has been learned about how Nrf2 and particulate matter interact to lessen or contribute to disease. Dendritic cells are an important part of the antigen-presenting immune system. The author writes that exposure to particulate matter in an Nrf2 deficient environment leads to 1) impairment of antigen endocytosis 2) significantly higher levels of oxidative stress probably due to lower levels of antioxidants like GCL and HO-1 3) higher levels of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-a and Il-6 4) lower levels of Il-18 4) less sensitivity to NAC and 5) Nrf2 deficiency may influence Th2 cytokine development leading to allergic diseases. (1)

This study provides clues to how particulate matter may influence the development of higher than normal levels of oxidative stress. People with conditions that already have conditions where these levels are higher should be aware that exposure to pollution indoors and outdoors may make their symptoms worse. In addition, we previously have written that many things can cause deficiency in the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway. This includes genetic factors, direct chemical exposure, changes to the microbiome and high fat diets.


1. Disruption of the transcription factor Nrf2 promotes pro-oxidative dendritic cells that stimulate Th2-like immunoresponsiveness upon activation by ambient particulate matter. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), Vol. 181, No. 7. (01 October 2008), pp. 4545-4559 by Marc A. Williams, Tirumalai Rangasamy, Stephen M. Bauer, et al.

Anaphylaxis From Tick Bite Meat Allergy!

"An increase in the Lone Star tick population since 2006, and the ability to recognize the ticks as the source of "alpha gal" allergy to red meat has meant significantly more cases of anaphylaxis being properly identified." Read more...

 American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. "Allergy clinic finds large percentage of anaphylaxis cases from tick bite meat allergy: Increased awareness, more available testing led to 33 percent of cases identified as alpha gal allergy." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 July 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730090146.htm>.

Fire Ant Pesticide Causes Neuroinflammation, Depression of the Natural Antioxidant System and Anxiety!

Bifenthrin is a pesticide that has commercial use for fire ants. Fire ants are a health and safety concern in many southern states of the U.S and there are over 200 species of fire ants spread out around the world. There venom is toxic and their bites can lead to allergic reactions and anaphylaxis in some people and animals. (1)

In the U.S., bifenthrin use is strictly labeled for the eradication of fire ants. As far as I know, there is no other use of it that is on label here in the US but is used extensively for agricultural use in other countries. In the past, the use of the chemical has been associated with the development of neurological disease and symptoms of anxiety. However, the mechanism of how it acts on the brain was not known.  In a recent study, it was demonstrated that rats exhibited anxiety after 60 of treatment with the chemical. In addition, it was discovered that these rats had extensive oxidation of lipids in two centers of the brain. Also, there was a decrease in glutathione and anti-oxidant activity and increased levels of oxidative stress and Tnf-a and reduced Nrf2. This is an important study in that it demonstrates how pesticides act on areas of the brain to cause neuroinflammation through activities of Nrf2/NF-kb pathway to promote anxiety. (2)


Wipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifenthrin


Inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms potentiate bifenthrin-induced neurological alterations and anxiety-like behavior in adult rats. Toxicology letters, Vol. 294 (15 September 2018), pp. 73-86 by Brahim Gargouri, Harsharan S. Bhatia, Michèle Bouchard, Bernd L. Fiebich, Hamadi Fetoui http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/14622148

How the Modern Diet Alters Susceptibility to Infection, Allergy and Autoimmunity!

 

 

How the Modern Diet Alters Susceptibility to Infection, Allergy and Autoimmunity!

 

 

 

Fast food fever: reviewing the impacts of the Western diet on immunity. Nutrition journal, Vol. 13 (17 June 2014), 61, doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-61 by Ian A. Myles