Exposure to lead affects male biothiols metabolism
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2013, Vol 20, Issue 4
Abstract
The most important biothiols include glutathione, homocysteine (HCY), cysteine and proteins. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the influence of lead on the biothiol turnover – the concentration of HCY and protein sulfhydryl groups (P-SH) in the serum and reduced glutathione (G-SH) in erythrocytes – in individuals (employees of metal works) exposed to lead and to evaluate its probable oxidative disorders, measured as the carbonyl protein (CP) concentration in serum. The exposed workers were divided into 2 subgroups: 1) low lead exposure (LPb), with a lead concentration in the blood (PbB) of 20–45 µg dl[sup]-1[/sup] (n= 102), and 2) high lead exposure (HPb), with PbB = 45–60 µg dl [sup]-1[/sup] (n= 81). The control group consisted of 72 office workers or other healthy subjects with no history of occupational exposure to lead. All the controls had normal PbB (<10 μg dl -1 ) and ZPP (<2.5 μg dl [sup]-1[/sup] ) levels. The concentration of HCY was higher in the LPb group by 11% and in the HPb group by 26%, compared with the control group (n=72). The CP concentration in these 2 groups was more than twice as high as that of the control group, with 108% and 125% increases for the LPb and HPb groups, respectively; G-SH was lower by 6.6% and 7.4% for the LPb and HPb groups, respectively; P-SH was lower by 8.2% and 13% for the LPb and HPb groups, respectively. Lead decreases levels of glutathione and protein thiol groups. Lead-induced oxidative stress contributes to the observed elevation of protein carbonyl groups. Besides, lead poisoning seems to be associated with hyperhomocysteinaemia, which may promote the development of atherosclerosis.
Authors and Affiliations
Sławomir Kasperczyk, Iwona Błaszczyk, Michał Dobrakowski, Ewa Romuk, Lucyna Kapka-Skrzypczak, Mariusz Adamek
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80694
- DOI -
- Views 84
- Downloads 0
The role of Chromium III in the organism and its possible use in diabetes and obesity treatment
introduction. Diabetes and obesity are diseases characterized by their increasing incidence every year. When comparing with healthy subjects, the serum levels of chromium (Cr) are lowered in these two diseases. Several s...
Risk factors for the spread of parasitic zoonoses among dog owners and their families in rural areas
Introduction. Close animal-human contacts are risky for people, especially in cases of any negligence towards proper veterinary care, deworming procedures, as well as human and dog hygiene. Among possible risks there are...
A model to account for variations in holm-oak ([i]Quercus ilex[/i] subsp. [i]ballota[/i]) acorn production in southern Spain
One of the characteristics of holm-oak acorn production is its high variability among individuals and years. To examine the main causes of this fact, a study was conducted from 1998-2010 in a natural area of holm-oak in...
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among 40- and 50-year-old inhabitants of Wroclaw, Poland
Introduction and objective. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been discussed for many years, but there is no doubt that those who have confirmed the presence of risk factors comprising the MetS had a higher risk of cardi...
Scalping degloving foot injury as a difficult therapeutic problem
The case is presented of a rare case of scalping foot injury of the degloving type, treated at the Clinic of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine at the Medical University in Lublin, Poland. The successful treatment used...