Immunological dysfunction in chronic arsenic exposure: From subclinical condition to skin cancer
Journal
Journal of Dermatology
Journal Volume
45
Journal Issue
11
Pages
1271-1277
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
Exposure to arsenic is a global health issue. Long-term arsenic exposure may associate with various cancers and many other pathological effects. Over 100 million people worldwide are exposed to arsenic particularly in countries such as Bangladesh, Chile, China, India, Mexico, Taiwan and the USA. Drinking of water contaminated with arsenic is the major route of human exposure. Skin lesions are considered to be the most common adverse effects associated with chronic arsenic exposure. Skin lesions usually develop with the latency period spanning more than 20 years from first exposure. Arsenic-induced Bowen's disease, the most frequently encountered carcinoma in situ resulting from chronic arsenic exposure, is characterized by multiple and recrudescent lesions. Long-term arsenic exposure results in impaired immunity in susceptible individuals. In the prenatal stage, enhanced placental inflammatory responses and reduced placental T cells by arsenic may result in decreased thymic size and functions in newborns. In childhood, arsenic exposure may reduce peripheral CD4+ cells and interleukin-2 secretion which leads to susceptibility to opportunistic infections. There was an impairment of macrophage function and oxidative DNA damage of peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes in adults with skin lesions. In arsenic-induced Bowen's disease lesions, a decrease in the number and functions of Langerhans cells and, in parallel, a selective CD4+ cell apoptosis was noticed. These findings provide scientific evidence for understanding the phenomenon of arsenic-induced immune escape in the early stage of carcinogenesis and a reasonable explanation for multiple and recrudescent arsenic cancers in the skin. ? 2018 Japanese Dermatological Association
Subjects
arsenic; Bowen's disease; carcinogenesis; Langerhans cells; skin neoplasms
Other Subjects
arsenic; drinking water; interleukin 2; arsenic; apoptosis; Bowen disease; CD4+ T lymphocyte; cytokine release; DNA damage; human; immunopathology; infection sensitivity; inflammation; ingestion; Langerhans cell; latent period; long term exposure; macrophage function; monocyte; neutrophil; nonhuman; opportunistic infection; organ size; placenta; prenatal exposure; prenatal period; Review; skin carcinogenesis; skin defect; T lymphocyte; thymus; tumor escape; Bowen disease; chemically induced; chronic disease; cytology; drug effect; environmental exposure; immunology; innate immunity; macrophage; pathology; skin; skin tumor; Apoptosis; Arsenic; Bowen's Disease; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Chronic Disease; DNA Damage; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Langerhans Cells; Macrophages; Neutrophils; Skin; Skin Neoplasms
Publisher
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Type
review