A GENETIC link between air pollution exposure and the risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, and psoriasis, has been identified in a new study. This research, utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, emphasizes the need to address air quality for public health benefits.
Published findings reveal that specific air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), are not only correlated with autoimmune diseases but may also play a causal role. The study analyzed genetic data from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with five common air pollutants. These SNPs served as instrumental variables for assessing disease risks.
Key findings include:
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Exposure to NOx significantly increases the odds of rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 1.47), Sjögren’s syndrome (OR = 2.29), and systemic lupus erythematosus (OR = 7.26).
Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10): PM2.5 is a risk factor for ulcerative colitis (OR = 1.68), while PM10 is associated with psoriasis (OR = 1.34).
A notable exception is PM2.5–10, which showed a protective association with Sjögren’s syndrome (OR = 0.29).
The study also investigated potential mediating factors, such as smoking and BMI, which accounted for 9% and 6% of the nitrogen oxides’ impact on RA, respectively.
This research underscores the need for clinicians to consider environmental exposures in autoimmune disease risk assessments and preventive strategies. With autoimmune conditions affecting millions of Americans, improving air quality could become a crucial public health intervention.
For healthcare providers, these findings suggest a paradigm shift: addressing environmental factors like air pollution may complement traditional therapeutic approaches to autoimmune diseases. This integrated approach could enhance patient outcomes while supporting broader public health initiatives aimed at pollution control.
Reference: Zhang M et al. Causal relationships between air pollution and common autoimmune diseases: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Sci Rep. 2025;15(135).
Anaya Malik | AMJ
