Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of autoantibodies in uranium miners

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2000 Sep;123(1):77-91. doi: 10.1159/000024426.

Abstract

Uranium miners exposed to silica dust have a higher risk of developing systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sera of 1976 former uranium miners were analysed for autoantibodies typical of connective tissue disease. The frequency of some of these antibodies (anti-centromere, -topoisomerase I, -nucleolar, -dsDNA, -Ro/SSA, -La-SSB and U1-RNP antibodies) was significantly higher compared to a gender- and age-matched control group and was associated with the intensity of exposure as well as with clinical symptoms of SSc or SLE. It was also shown that SSc-associated autoantibodies may serve as an early indicator of disease development. Some differences in the autoantibody production between silica-dust-associated and idiopathic SLE/SSc were observed that might be caused by environmental factors in the population of uranium miners.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Cell Nucleolus / immunology
  • Centromere / immunology
  • DNA / immunology
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / immunology
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / diagnosis
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / epidemiology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / mortality
  • Male
  • Mining*
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / immunology*
  • Occupational Diseases / mortality
  • Organ Specificity / immunology
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Small Cytoplasmic*
  • Ribonucleoproteins / immunology
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / immunology
  • SS-B Antigen
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / diagnosis
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / epidemiology
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / mortality
  • Silicon Dioxide / immunology
  • Uranium / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • RNA, Small Cytoplasmic
  • RO60 protein, human
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear
  • SS-A antigen
  • Uranium
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • DNA
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I