Markers of allergy and immunoregulation in children under conditions of aerogenic exposure to aluminum

Introduction. The study of sensitization under conditions of aerogenic exposure to aluminum is relevant for preventing the formation of the risk of disorders of the immunological health in the child population.

Materials and methods. Preschool three hundred fifty three children living in Eastern Siberia were examined. Observation group included 199 children living in the zone exposed to emissions from non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, comparison group — 154 children living in a “conditionally clean” area. In the observation area, the average daily dose of aerogenic exposure to aluminum was 0.292 ∙ 10^–3 mg/(kg ∙ day), in the comparison area — 0.0376 ∙ 10^–3mg/(kg ∙ day). The work used sanitary-hygienic, chemical-analytical, enzyme-linked immunosorbent and allergosorbent research methods.

Results. In children living under conditions of aluminum exposure, a twofold excess of aluminum content was identified in biological environments relative to the comparison group (p = 0.001), hyperproduction of IgG to aluminum, CD19⁺ and CD3⁺CD8⁺ lymphocytes (1.6 times), and NKT lymphocytes (2 times) and CD11a⁺ lymphocytes 1.4 times (p=0.001) was noted, which reflects an imbalance of immunoregulation and the formation of autoallergy. A significant relationship was established between hyperproduction of total IgE and IgG to aluminum (OR=2.29–5.98; 95% CI 1.76–9.52), (RR=1.93–2.66; 95% CI: 1.41–3.54)

Limitations of the study. Limited sample size.

Conclusion. As markers of allergy and imbalance of immunoregulation in children under conditions of aerogenic exposure to aluminum and with its increased content in biological media, it is necessary to recommend IgG to aluminum as a marker of sensitivity, as well as CD11a⁺, reflecting the likelihood of developing a risk of developing immunological disadaptation and autosensitization (OR = 2.29–5.98), (RR=1.93–2.66).

Compliance with ethical standards. The study design was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies, No. 2 from 03/22/2022.

Contributions:
Dolgikh O.V. — development of the research concept, analysis and interpretation of data, editing of the manuscript;
Dianova D.G. — development of the concept and design of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript;
Shirinkina A.S. — data collection and processing, tables.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: April 8, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: July 17, 2024