Features of the immune and genetic profile in children suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system associated with contamination of biological media with nickel and copper

Introduction. A pressing issue is the possible impact of exposure to heavy metals on the occurrence and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among the pediatric population.

Purpose. To evaluate the immune and genetic profile in CVD children under environment contamination with nickel and copper.

Materials and methods. Ninety seven children living in the industrial center of the Perm region were examined. Observation group (45 CVD patients), comparison group (52 cases) without CVD. Annexin V and CD16⁺CD56⁺ receptors were determined by cytofluorometry. Content of specific IgE to nickel and IgG to copper was detected by the allergosorbent method. SNP genotyping was performed using real-time PCR.

Results. In the observation group, there was noted an increase in the concentration of nickel and copper; hyperproduction of IgG to copper, IgE to nickel by 1.8 and 1.5 times; activation of CD16⁺CD56⁺ receptors by 1.2–1.6 times and annexin V by 1.5–4.5 times. Prevalence in the observation group of the C allele of the IL-6 G174C gene (RR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.01–2.59) and the C allele of the MTHFR C677T gene (RR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.07–1.79) increase the relative risk of CVD by 1.6 and 1.4 times.

Research limitations. 3–6 years children, in the observation group the presence of CVD.

Conclusion. Allele C of the MTHFR C677T rs1801133 gene forms a relative risk (RR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.07–1.79) of imbalance in the expression of sulfur-containing amino acids, impaired expression of allele C of the IL-6 G174C rs1800795 gene (RR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.01–2.59), results in overexpression of CD16⁺CD56⁺, Annexin V underlying the etiopathogenesis of CVD diseases.

Keywords: pathology of the cardiovascular system; MTHFR C677T rs1801133 gene; IL-6 G174C rs1800795 gene; nickel; copper; clusters of cellular differentiation; Annexin V

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Technologies for Public Health Risk Management (Protocol No.2 dated July 17, 2023). Parents or guardians of all children signed voluntary informed consent to participate in the study.

Contribution of the authors:
Dolgikh O.V. — the concept and design of the study, writing a text, editing;
Shirinkina A.S. — the collection and processing of the material, writing a text, editing;
Zaitseva N.V. — the concept and design of the study, writing a text, editing.
All authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Acknowledgment. The study was not sponsored.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Received: September 18, 2024 / Accepted: December 11, 2024 / Published: February 28, 2025