Applied Cell Biology

Autoantibodies in Females Exposed to Indoor Air Dampness Microbiota and Complaining of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity-The Case Control Report

Tamara Tuuminen^1*, Itai Katz^2,3, Kirsi Vaali⁴, Harald Heidecke⁵, Gilad Halpert^2,3, Howard Amital^2,3,6, Yehuda Shoenfeld⁷

¹Kruunuhaka Medical Center, Kaisaniemenkatu 1Ba, 00 180 Helsinki, Finland
²Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
³Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat- Gan, 52621, Israel
⁴SelexLab, Kalevankatu 20, Helsinki 00100, Finland
⁵CellTrend GmbH Im Biotechnologiepark 3 D-14943 Luckenwalde, Germany
⁶Department of Medicine ‘B’ and Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
⁷Ariel University, Ariel, Israel

Abstract

We hypothesized that prolonged or cumulative exposure to indoor air dampness microbiota in moisture-damaged buildings and daily exposure to wireless telecommunication devices would potentiate the risk of electromagnetic
hypersensitivity (EHS), which is poorly defined.
We performed a nested comparative analysis within an age- and sex-matched study of females who were exposed to dampness microbiota with self-reported complaints compatible with EHS (n=11). Their levels of autoantibodies towards 13 different
autoantigens were measured.
EHS presented as multiple chemical sensitivity, profound fatigue, memory disturbances in all subjects (11/11), and cognitive impairment in the majority (9/11). When comparing the patients to controls, no difference was detected between the
levels of the following autoantibodies: angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1), endothelin receptor type A (ETAR), adrenergic receptors α1AR, α2AR, β1AR, β2AR and cholinergic muscarinic receptors m1AChR, m2AChR, m3AChR and m5AChR.
In contrast, IgG levels towards m4AChR and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), and IgM autoantibodies against glycosylated moieties of heparan and heparan sulphate (TS-HDS) were significantly decreased in the study cohort,
p=0.008; p=0.032, p<0.001, respectively.
This is the first report demonstrating an imbalance in the nervous system autoantibodies in patients with EHS. The clinical significance of these altered responses remains to be clarified.

Keywords:

autonomous nervous system; dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS); sick building syndrome, autoantibodies, neurological symptoms, electromagnetic hypersensitivity.