Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populations

Environmental exposure to complex metal mixtures plays a critical role in the onset and progression of diverse chronic diseases, in ways that the traditional toxicological framework fails to capture. A paradigm shift is underway, moving toward a more integrated understanding of combined metal effect...

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Main Authors: Riccardo Leinardi, François Huaux
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Toxicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1625874/full
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author Riccardo Leinardi
François Huaux
author_facet Riccardo Leinardi
François Huaux
author_sort Riccardo Leinardi
collection DOAJ
description Environmental exposure to complex metal mixtures plays a critical role in the onset and progression of diverse chronic diseases, in ways that the traditional toxicological framework fails to capture. A paradigm shift is underway, moving toward a more integrated understanding of combined metal effects through the interdisciplinary study of the metallome, the distribution of metal ions and metalloids within a biological system. In this perspective, we highlight the clinical importance of metallome to identify specific subpopulations in which disease onset or progression is primarily driven by environmental metal exposure rather than genetic predisposition. To achieve this goal, robust and sensitive analytical methods are required to overcome the limitations of conventional approaches and enable the detection of the full spectrum of metal species, including metals sequestered within mineral particles present in body fluids and tissues. We propose methodological innovations in sample preparation and analysis that expand the current scope of metallome-associated research. Together, these advances support a comprehensive framework for assessing metal mixture effects in environmental health, bridging toxicology with clinical practice and enabling more targeted, exposure-informed public health interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-62922d834f2f4d9c841b55b3c4ce8d7b2025-08-20T02:58:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Toxicology2673-30802025-08-01710.3389/ftox.2025.16258741625874Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populationsRiccardo LeinardiFrançois HuauxEnvironmental exposure to complex metal mixtures plays a critical role in the onset and progression of diverse chronic diseases, in ways that the traditional toxicological framework fails to capture. A paradigm shift is underway, moving toward a more integrated understanding of combined metal effects through the interdisciplinary study of the metallome, the distribution of metal ions and metalloids within a biological system. In this perspective, we highlight the clinical importance of metallome to identify specific subpopulations in which disease onset or progression is primarily driven by environmental metal exposure rather than genetic predisposition. To achieve this goal, robust and sensitive analytical methods are required to overcome the limitations of conventional approaches and enable the detection of the full spectrum of metal species, including metals sequestered within mineral particles present in body fluids and tissues. We propose methodological innovations in sample preparation and analysis that expand the current scope of metallome-associated research. Together, these advances support a comprehensive framework for assessing metal mixture effects in environmental health, bridging toxicology with clinical practice and enabling more targeted, exposure-informed public health interventions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1625874/fullmetal toxicologymetallomemetallomicsmetal exposureexposomechronic diseases
spellingShingle Riccardo Leinardi
François Huaux
Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populations
Frontiers in Toxicology
metal toxicology
metallome
metallomics
metal exposure
exposome
chronic diseases
title Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populations
title_full Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populations
title_fullStr Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populations
title_full_unstemmed Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populations
title_short Uncovering exposome-related diseases through the pathologic metallome: a novel approach for clinical populations
title_sort uncovering exposome related diseases through the pathologic metallome a novel approach for clinical populations
topic metal toxicology
metallome
metallomics
metal exposure
exposome
chronic diseases
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1625874/full
work_keys_str_mv AT riccardoleinardi uncoveringexposomerelateddiseasesthroughthepathologicmetallomeanovelapproachforclinicalpopulations
AT francoishuaux uncoveringexposomerelateddiseasesthroughthepathologicmetallomeanovelapproachforclinicalpopulations