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 109
- Downloads 0
Identification of host blood-meal sources and Borrelia in field-collected Ixodes ricinus ticks in north-western Poland
Forest animals play fundamental roles in the maintenance of [i]Ixodes ricinus[/i] and [i]Borrelia[/i] species in the forest biotope. To identify the forest vertebrate species that are host for I. ricinus and for the reco...
Pantoea agglomerans: a mysterious bacterium of evil and good. Part III. Deleterious effects: infections of humans, animals and plants
[i]Pantoea agglomerans[/i], a bacterium associated with plants, is not an obligate infectious agent in humans. However, it could be a cause of opportunistic human infections, mostly by wound infection with plant material...
Influence of meteorological parameters and air pollution on hourly fluctuation of birch ([i]Betula L.[/i]) and ash ([i]Fraxinus L[/i].) airborne pollen
Pollen grains are one of the most important groups of atmospheric biological particles that originate allergic processes. Knowledge of intradiurnal variation of the atmospheric pollen may be useful for the treatment and...
Monitoring of airborne bacteria and aerosols in different wards of hospitals – Particle counting usefulness in investigation of airborne bacteria
[b]Introduction and objective[/b]. The presence of airborne bacteria in hospital environments is of great concern because of their potential role as a source of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). The aim of this study w...
Assessment of adequacy of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy
Introduction. Deficiency of vitamin D in pregnancy leads to higher incidences of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, bacterial vaginosis, and also affects the health of the infants. According to Polish rec...