Occupational dust and chemical exposures and the development of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. in Nature reviews. Rheumatology / Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2025 Mar;21(3):137-156. doi: 10.1038/s41584-024-01216-3. Epub 2025 Feb 5.

2025

Tipo pubblicazione

Journal Article; Review;

Autori/Collaboratori (5)Vedi tutti...

Yates D
Department of Rheumatology, St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne), Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
Calderone A
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne at St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne), Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
Morrisroe K
Department of Rheumatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. mandana.nikpour@sydney.edu.au.

et alii...

Abstract

Although the association between certain occupational exposures and the development of autoimmune rheumatic disease was first described over a century ago, this association has only become more widely recognized in the past 10 years because of the use of high-silica-content engineered stone in construction and home renovation. There is now a substantial and growing body of evidence that occupational dust and chemical exposure, be it through mining, stonemasonry, building or other trades, increases the risk of various systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) including rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis. Although the pathogenic mechanisms of silica-induced autoimmunity are not fully elucidated, it is thought that alveolar macrophage ingestion of silica and the ensuing phagosomal damage is an initiating event that ultimately leads to production of autoantibodies and immune-mediated tissue injury. The purportedly causal association between occupational exposure to chemicals, such as organic solvents, and an increased risk of SARDs is less frequently recognized compared with silica dust, and its immunopathogenesis is less well understood. An appreciation of the importance of occupational dust and chemical exposures in the development of SARDs has implications for workplace health and safety regulations and offers a unique opportunity to better understand autoimmune disease pathogenesis and implement preventative strategies.

PMID : 39910253

DOI : 10.1038/s41584-024-01216-3

Keywords

Humans; Dust/immunology; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects; Rheumatic Diseases/immunology; Autoimmune Diseases/chemically induced/immunology/etiology/epidemiology; Silicon Dioxide/adverse effects/toxicity; Occupational Diseases/immunology/etiology/epidemiology/chemically induced;