1
|
Nikravesh M, Ghanbari S, Badiee M, Zarea K, Moosavi M, Matin M. Relationship Between Arsenic in Biological Media and Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024:10.1007/s12011-024-04157-w. [PMID: 38619678 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04157-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is an environmental pollutant with carcinogenic effects and breast cancer (BC) is a prevalent malignant tumor in women. The goal of this meta-analysis was to establish a connection between biological sample As levels and the risk of developing BC. Pub Med, Web of Science, Scopus, and Elsevier were used to systematically screen the literature published between 1990 and 2023. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was also used in assessing the quality of publications. A random-effects model was used to assess the pertinent data that was gleaned from these articles. Using the I2 index the heterogeneity of studies was performed. Egger's test and funnel plots were used to look at publication bias. We identified 16 epidemiologic studies that included 2713 women with BC and 5347 healthy individuals. The results showed that the difference between the case group and the control group was 0.72 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 1.14]. According to subgroup analysis, the value for blood was 0.18 [95% CI 0.01 to 0.35], whereas the value for hair was 3.08 [95% CI 0.19 to 5.97]. The present meta-analysis suggested that As levels were significantly higher in BC patients than in controls. This systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence supporting a positive relationship between arsenic levels in biological media and BC risk. These findings highlight the importance of further research to investigate the mechanisms of this association and explore potential preventive strategies to reduce the adverse effects of arsenic exposure on BC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehrad Nikravesh
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Saeed Ghanbari
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mahdiehsadat Badiee
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Kourosh Zarea
- Nursing Care Research Center in Chronic Diseases, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mehrnoosh Moosavi
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mehrnoush Matin
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
- Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
- Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Augenstein II, Nail AN, Ferragut Cardoso AP, States JC, Banerjee M. Chronic arsenic exposure suppresses proteasomal and autophagic protein degradation. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 107:104398. [PMID: 38403142 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Ubiquitin Proteasomal System (UPS) and autophagy dysregulation initiate cancer. These pathways are regulated by zinc finger proteins. Trivalent inorganic arsenic (iAs) displaces zinc from zinc finger proteins disrupting functions of important cellular proteins. The effect of chronic environmental iAs exposure (100 nM) on UPS has not been studied. We tested the hypothesis that environmental iAs exposure suppresses UPS, activating autophagy as a compensatory mechanism. We exposed skin (HaCaT and Ker-CT; independent quadruplicates) and lung (BEAS-2B; independent triplicates) cell cultures to 0 or 100 nM iAs for 7 or 8 weeks. We quantified ER stress (XBP1 splicing employing Reverse Transcriptase -Polymerase Chain Reaction), proteasomal degradation (immunoblots), and initiation and completion of autophagy (immunoblots). We demonstrate that chronic iAs exposure suppresses UPS, initiates autophagy, but suppresses autophagic protein degradation in skin and lung cell lines. Our data suggest that chronic iAs exposure inhibits autophagy which subsequently suppresses UPS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabell I Augenstein
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Alexandra N Nail
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ana P Ferragut Cardoso
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - J Christopher States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mayukh Banerjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Domene A, Orozco H, Rodríguez-Viso P, Monedero V, Zúñiga M, Vélez D, Devesa V. Impact of Chronic Exposure to Arsenate through Drinking Water on the Intestinal Barrier. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:1731-1744. [PMID: 37819996 PMCID: PMC10726480 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) [As(III) + As(V)], which affects millions of people, increases the incidence of some kinds of cancer and other noncarcinogenic pathologies. Although the oral pathway is the main source of exposure, in vivo studies conducted to verify the intestinal toxicity of this metalloid are scarce and are mainly focused on evaluating the toxicity of As(III). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic exposure (6 months) of BALB/c mice to As(V) (15-60 mg/L) via drinking water on the different components of the intestinal barrier and to determine the possible mechanisms involved. The results show that chronic exposure to As(V) generates a situation of oxidative stress (increased lipid peroxidation and reactive species) and inflammation (increased contents of several proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophil infiltrations) in the intestinal tissues. There is also evidence of an altered expression of constituent proteins of the intercellular junctions (Cldn1, Cldn3, and Ocln) and the mucus layer (Muc2) and changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids. All of these toxic effects eventually may lead to the disruption of the intestinal barrier, which shows an increased paracellular permeability. Moreover, signs of endotoxemia are observed in the serum of As(V)-treated animals (increases in lipopolysaccharide-binding protein LBP and the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β). The data obtained suggest that chronic exposure to As(V) via drinking water affects the intestinal environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Domene
- Instituto de Agroquímica
y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calle Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Helena Orozco
- Instituto de Agroquímica
y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calle Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Pilar Rodríguez-Viso
- Instituto de Agroquímica
y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calle Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Vicente Monedero
- Instituto de Agroquímica
y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calle Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Manuel Zúñiga
- Instituto de Agroquímica
y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calle Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Dinoraz Vélez
- Instituto de Agroquímica
y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calle Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Vicenta Devesa
- Instituto de Agroquímica
y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calle Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Taube N, Kabir R, Ebenebe OV, Garbus H, Din SMAE, Illingworth E, Fitch M, Wang N, Kohr MJ. Prenatal Arsenite Exposure Alters Maternal Cardiac Remodeling During Late Pregnancy. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.28.559986. [PMID: 37808684 PMCID: PMC10557683 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.28.559986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to inorganic arsenic through drinking water is widespread and has been linked to many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Arsenic exposure has been shown to alter hypertrophic signaling in the adult heart, as well as in-utero offspring development. However, the effect of arsenic on maternal cardiac remodeling during pregnancy has not been studied. As such, there is a need to understand how environmental exposure contributes to adverse pregnancy-related cardiovascular events. This study seeks to understand the impact of trivalent inorganic arsenic exposure during gestation on maternal cardiac remodeling in late pregnancy, as well as offspring outcomes. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 0 (control), 100 or 1000 µg/L sodium arsenite (NaAsO 2 ) beginning at embryonic day (E) 2.5 and continuing through E17.5. Maternal heart function and size were assessed via transthoracic echocardiography, gravimetric measurement, and histology. Transcript levels of hypertrophic markers were probed via qRT-PCR and confirmed by western blot. Offspring outcomes were assessed through echocardiography and gravimetric measurement. We found that exposure to 1000 µg/L iAs abrogated normal physiologic growth of the maternal heart during late pregnancy and reduced transcript levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (Pgrmc1) and progesterone receptor membrane component 2 (Pgrmc2). Both 100 and 1000 µg/L iAs also reduced transcription of protein kinase B (Akt) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Akt protein expression was also significantly reduced after 1000 µg/L iAs exposure in the maternal heart with no change in activating phosphorylation. This significant abrogation of maternal cardiac hypertrophy suggests that arsenic exposure during pregnancy can potentially contribute to cardiovascular disease. Taken together, our findings further underscore the importance of reducing arsenic exposure during pregnancy and indicate that more research is needed to assess the impact of arsenic and other environmental exposures on the maternal heart and adverse pregnancy events.
Collapse
|
5
|
Martinez-Morata I, Sobel M, Tellez-Plaza M, Navas-Acien A, Howe CG, Sanchez TR. A State-of-the-Science Review on Metal Biomarkers. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:215-249. [PMID: 37337116 PMCID: PMC10822714 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00402-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Biomarkers are commonly used in epidemiological studies to assess metals and metalloid exposure and estimate internal dose, as they integrate multiple sources and routes of exposure. Researchers are increasingly using multi-metal panels and innovative statistical methods to understand how exposure to real-world metal mixtures affects human health. Metals have both common and unique sources and routes of exposure, as well as biotransformation and elimination pathways. The development of multi-element analytical technology allows researchers to examine a broad spectrum of metals in their studies; however, their interpretation is complex as they can reflect different windows of exposure and several biomarkers have critical limitations. This review elaborates on more than 500 scientific publications to discuss major sources of exposure, biotransformation and elimination, and biomarkers of exposure and internal dose for 12 metals/metalloids, including 8 non-essential elements (arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, tin, uranium) and 4 essential elements (manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc) commonly used in multi-element analyses. RECENT FINDINGS We conclude that not all metal biomarkers are adequate measures of exposure and that understanding the metabolic biotransformation and elimination of metals is key to metal biomarker interpretation. For example, whole blood is a good biomarker of exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and tin, but it is not a good indicator for barium, nickel, and uranium. For some essential metals, the interpretation of whole blood biomarkers is unclear. Urine is the most commonly used biomarker of exposure across metals but it should not be used to assess lead exposure. Essential metals such as zinc and manganese are tightly regulated by homeostatic processes; thus, elevated levels in urine may reflect body loss and metabolic processes rather than excess exposure. Total urinary arsenic may reflect exposure to both organic and inorganic arsenic, thus, arsenic speciation and adjustment for arsebonetaine are needed in populations with dietary seafood consumption. Hair and nails primarily reflect exposure to organic mercury, except in populations exposed to high levels of inorganic mercury such as in occupational and environmental settings. When selecting biomarkers, it is also critical to consider the exposure window of interest. Most populations are chronically exposed to metals in the low-to-moderate range, yet many biomarkers reflect recent exposures. Toenails are emerging biomarkers in this regard. They are reliable biomarkers of long-term exposure for arsenic, mercury, manganese, and selenium. However, more research is needed to understand the role of nails as a biomarker of exposure to other metals. Similarly, teeth are increasingly used to assess lifelong exposures to several essential and non-essential metals such as lead, including during the prenatal window. As metals epidemiology moves towards embracing a multi-metal/mixtures approach and expanding metal panels to include less commonly studied metals, it is important for researchers to have a strong knowledge base about the metal biomarkers included in their research. This review aims to aid metals researchers in their analysis planning, facilitate sound analytical decision-making, as well as appropriate understanding and interpretation of results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Martinez-Morata
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Marisa Sobel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Maria Tellez-Plaza
- Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Tiffany R Sanchez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Buekers J, Baken K, Govarts E, Martin LR, Vogel N, Kolossa-Gehring M, Šlejkovec Z, Falnoga I, Horvat M, Lignell S, Lindroos AK, Rambaud L, Riou M, Pedraza-Diaz S, Esteban-Lopez M, Castaño A, Den Hond E, Baeyens W, Santonen T, Schoeters G. Human urinary arsenic species, associated exposure determinants and potential health risks assessed in the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114115. [PMID: 36689783 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The European Joint Programme HBM4EU coordinated and advanced human biomonitoring (HBM) in Europe in order to provide science-based evidence for chemical policy development and improve chemical management. Arsenic (As) was selected as a priority substance under the HBM4EU initiative for which open, policy relevant questions like the status of exposure had to be answered. Internal exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs), measured as Toxic Relevant Arsenic (TRA) (the sum of As(III), As(V), MMA, DMA) in urine samples of teenagers differed among the sampling sites (BEA (Spain) > Riksmaten adolescents (Sweden), ESTEBAN (France) > FLEHS IV (Belgium), SLO CRP (Slovenia)) with geometric means between 3.84 and 8.47 μg/L. The ratio TRA to TRA + arsenobetaine or the ratio TRA to total arsenic varied between 0.22 and 0.49. Main exposure determinants for TRA were the consumption of rice and seafood. When all studies were combined, Pearson correlation analysis showed significant associations between all considered As species. Higher concentrations of DMA, quantitatively a major constituent of TRA, were found with increasing arsenobetaine concentrations, a marker for organic As intake, e.g. through seafood, indicating that other sources of DMA than metabolism of inorganic As exist, e.g. direct intake of DMA or via the intake of arsenosugars or -lipids. Given the lower toxicity of DMA(V) versus iAs, estimating the amount of DMA not originating from iAs, or normalizing TRA for arsenobetaine intake could be useful for estimating iAs exposure and risk. Comparing urinary TRA concentrations with formerly derived biomonitoring equivalent (BE) for non-carcinogenic effects (6.4 μg/L) clearly shows that all 95th percentile exposure values in the different studies exceeded this BE. This together with the fact that cancer risk may not be excluded even at lower iAs levels, suggests a possible health concern for the general population of Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jurgen Buekers
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
| | - Kirsten Baken
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Loïc Rambaud
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Margaux Riou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Susana Pedraza-Diaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban-Lopez
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene (PIH), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental & Geo-Chemistry, Free Universtiy of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Shiek SS, Sajai ST, Dsouza HS. Arsenic-induced toxicity and the ameliorative role of antioxidants and natural compounds. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23281. [PMID: 36550698 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) poisoning has proven to be a major threat worldwide because of its toxic effects on the human body. As toxicity through drinking water is a global health concern. The toxicity of As is known to affect the liver, kidney, lungs, muscles, cardiovascular system, and nervous system and can even induce diabetes. Further As can cause skin lesions leading to notable diseases in the skin like Bowen's disease. Chronic exposure to As has caused many tragedies in Eastern, and several Southeast Asian and Latin American countries. Long-term exposure to As makes it an immediate threat that should be dealt with as a priority, and one of the ways to handle it may be with the use of antioxidants. In this review, we have discussed the natural and anthropogenic sources of As, its metabolism, pathophysiology, and mechanism of toxicity. Besides, we have also discussed some of the synthetic chelators and the ameliorative role of antioxidants and natural compounds in reducing As toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sadiya S Shiek
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sanai T Sajai
- Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Herman S Dsouza
- Department of Radiation Biology and Toxicology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Islam R, Zhao L, Wang Y, Lu-Yao G, Liu LZ. Epigenetic Dysregulations in Arsenic-Induced Carcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184502. [PMID: 36139662 PMCID: PMC9496897 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic is a crucial environmental metalloid whose high toxicity levels negatively impact human health. It poses significant health concerns to millions of people in developed and developing countries such as the USA, Canada, Bangladesh, India, China, and Mexico by enhancing sensitivity to various types of diseases, including cancers. However, how arsenic causes changes in gene expression that results in heinous conditions remains elusive. One of the proposed essential mechanisms that still has seen limited research with regard to causing disease upon arsenic exposure is the dysregulation of epigenetic components. In this review, we have extensively summarized current discoveries in arsenic-induced epigenetic modifications in carcinogenesis and angiogenesis. Importantly, we highlight the possible mechanisms underlying epigenetic reprogramming through arsenic exposure that cause changes in cell signaling and dysfunctions of different epigenetic elements.
Collapse
|
9
|
Ro SH, Bae J, Jang Y, Myers JF, Chung S, Yu J, Natarajan SK, Franco R, Song HS. Arsenic Toxicity on Metabolism and Autophagy in Adipose and Muscle Tissues. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040689. [PMID: 35453374 PMCID: PMC9028583 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Arsenic, a naturally occurring metalloid derived from the environment, has been studied worldwide for its causative effects in various cancers. However, the effects of arsenic toxicity on the development and progression of metabolic syndrome, including obesity and diabetes, has received less attention. Many studies suggest that metabolic dysfunction and autophagy dysregulation of adipose and muscle tissues are closely related to the development of metabolic disease. In the USA, arsenic contamination has been reported in some ground water, soil and grain samples in major agricultural regions, but the effects on adipose and muscle tissue metabolism and autophagy have not been investigated much. Here, we highlight arsenic toxicity according to the species, dose and exposure time and the effects on adipose and muscle tissue metabolism and autophagy. Historically, arsenic was used as both a poison and medicine, depending on the dose and treatment time. In the modern era, arsenic intoxication has significantly increased due to exposure from water, soil and food, which could be a contributing factor in the development and progression of metabolic disease. From this review, a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms by which arsenic alters metabolism and autophagy regulation could become a cornerstone leading to the development of therapeutic strategies against arsenic-induced toxicity and metabolic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Hyun Ro
- Department of Biochemistry and the Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; (J.B.); (Y.J.); (J.F.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-402-472-5424; Fax:+1-402-472-7842
| | - Jiyoung Bae
- Department of Biochemistry and the Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; (J.B.); (Y.J.); (J.F.M.)
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Yura Jang
- Department of Biochemistry and the Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; (J.B.); (Y.J.); (J.F.M.)
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Laboratory of Immunology, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Jacob F. Myers
- Department of Biochemistry and the Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; (J.B.); (Y.J.); (J.F.M.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College and Jefferson College of Life Sciences, MD-PhD Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Soonkyu Chung
- Department of Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA;
| | - Jiujiu Yu
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (J.Y.); (S.K.N.)
| | - Sathish Kumar Natarajan
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (J.Y.); (S.K.N.)
| | - Rodrigo Franco
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
| | - Hyun-Seob Song
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mersaoui SY, Guilbert C, Chou H, Douillet C, Bohle DS, Stýblo M, Richard S, Mann KK. Arsenic 3 methyltransferase (AS3MT) automethylates on cysteine residues in vitro. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:1371-1386. [PMID: 35244730 PMCID: PMC9013690 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03248-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic toxicity is a global concern to human health causing increased incidences of cancer, bronchopulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases. In human and mouse, inorganic arsenic (iAs) is metabolized in a series of methylation steps catalyzed by arsenic (3) methyltransferase (AS3MT), forming methylated arsenite (MAsIII), dimethylarsenite (DMAIII) and the volatile trimethylarsine (TMA). The methylation of arsenic is coordinated by four conserved cysteines proposed to participate in catalysis, namely C33, C62, C157, and C207 in mouse AS3MT. The current model consists of AS3MT methylating iAs in the presence of the cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), and the formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds following the reduction of MAsV to MAsIII. In the presence of endogenous reductants, these disulfide bonds are reduced, the enzyme re-generates, and the second round of methylation ensues. Using in vitro methylation assays, we find that AS3MT undergoes an initial automethylation step in the absence of iAs. This automethylation is enhanced by glutathione (GSH) and dithiothreitol (DTT), suggesting that reduced cysteines accept methyl groups from SAM to form S-methylcysteines. Following the addition of iAs, automethylation of AS3MT is decreased. Furthermore, using a Flag-AS3MT immunoprecipitation coupled to MS/MS, we identify both C33 and C62 as acceptors of the methyl group in vivo. Site-directed mutagenesis (C to A) revealed that three of the previously described cysteines were required for AS3MT automethylation. In vitro experiments show that automethylated AS3MT can methylate iAs in the presence of SAM. Thus, we propose that automethylated may represent an active conformation of AS3MT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofiane Y Mersaoui
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Departments of Oncology and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Cynthia Guilbert
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Departments of Oncology and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Hsiang Chou
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Departments of Oncology and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Christelle Douillet
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7461, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - D Scott Bohle
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Otto Maass 233A, Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Miroslav Stýblo
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7461, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Stéphane Richard
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Departments of Oncology and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Koren K Mann
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Departments of Oncology and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang X, Ding N, Harlow SD, Randolph JF, Mukherjee B, Gold EB, Park SK. Urinary metals and metal mixtures and timing of natural menopause in midlife women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Environ Int 2021; 157:106781. [PMID: 34311223 PMCID: PMC8490279 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to metals and metal mixtures may influence ovarian aging. However, epidemiologic evidence of their potential impact is lacking. OBJECTIVE We prospectively examined the associations of 15 urinary metal concentrations and their mixtures with natural menopause in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Multi-Pollutant Study. METHODS The study population consisted of 1082 premenopausal women from multiple racial/ethnic groups, aged 45-56 years at baseline (1999-2000), with the median follow-up of 4.1 years. Urinary concentrations of 15 metals, including arsenic, barium, cadmium, cobalt, cesium, copper, mercury, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony, tin, thallium, and zinc, were measured at baseline. Natural menopause was defined as the final bleeding episode prior to at least 12 months of amenorrhea, not due to surgery or hormone therapy. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations between individual metal concentrations and timing of natural menopause. The associations between metal mixtures and natural menopause were evaluated using elastic net penalized Cox regression, and an environmental risk score (ERS) was computed to represent individual risks of natural menopause related to metal mixtures. RESULTS The median age at natural menopause was 53.2 years. Using the Cox proportional hazards models, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (and its 95% confidence interval (CI)) for natural menopause was 1.32 (1.03, 1.67) for arsenic and 1.36 (1.05, 1.76) for lead, comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles of metal concentrations. The predicted ages at natural menopause in the highest and lowest quartiles were 52.7 and 53.5 years for arsenic; and 52.9 and 53.8 years for lead. A significant association between ERS and menopause was also observed. Women in the highest vs. the lowest quartiles of ERS had an HR of 1.71 (1.36, 2.15), equivalent to a 1.6 year earlier median time to natural menopause. CONCLUSION This study suggests that arsenic, lead, and metal mixtures are associated with earlier natural menopause, a risk factor for adverse health outcomes in later life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Siobán D Harlow
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John F Randolph
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ellen B Gold
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic is a well-established human carcinogen, able to induce genetic and epigenetic alterations. More than 200 million people worldwide are exposed to arsenic concentrations in drinking water exceeding the recommended WHO threshold (10μg/l). Additionally, chronic exposure to levels below this threshold is known to result in long-term health effects in humans. The arsenic-related health effects in humans are associated with its biotransformation process, whereby the resulting metabolites can induce molecular damage that accumulates over time. The effects derived from these alterations include genomic instability associated with oxidative damage, alteration of gene expression (including coding and non-coding RNAs), global and localized epigenetic reprogramming, and histone posttranslational modifications. These alterations directly affect molecular pathways involved in the onset and progression of many conditions that can arise even decades after the exposure occurs. Importantly, arsenic metabolites generated during its biotransformation can also pass through the placental barrier, resulting in fetal exposure to this carcinogen at similar levels to those of the mother. As such, more immediate effects of the arsenic-induced molecular damage can be observed as detrimental effects on fetal development, pregnancy, and birth outcomes. In this review, we focus on the genetic and epigenetic damage associated with exposure to low levels of arsenic, particularly those affecting early developmental stages. We also present how these alterations occurring during early life can impact the development of certain diseases in adult life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor D. Martinez
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
- The Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- The Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Camacho-Moll ME, Sampayo-Reyes A, Castorena-Torres F, Lozano-Garza G, Alarcón-Galván G, Hernández A, Marcos R, Alcocer-González JM, Tamez-Guerra R, Bermúdez de León M. Selenite Downregulates STAT3 Expression and Provokes Lymphocytosis in the Liver of Chronically Exposed Syrian Golden Hamsters. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26185614. [PMID: 34577085 PMCID: PMC8465886 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26185614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic is considered a worldwide pollutant that can be present in drinking water. Arsenic exposure is associated with various diseases, including cancer. Antioxidants as selenite and α-tocopherol-succinate have been shown to modulate arsenic toxic effects. Since changes in STAT3 and PSMD10 gene expression have been associated with carcinogenesis, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of arsenic exposure and co-treatments with selenite or α-tocopherol-succinate on the expression of these genes, in the livers of chronically exposed Syrian golden hamsters. Animals were divided into six groups: (i) control, (ii) chronically treated with 100 ppm arsenic, (iii) treated with 6 ppm α-tocopherol-succinate (α-TOS), (iv) treated with 8.5 ppm selenite, (v) treated with arsenic + α-TOS, and (vi) treated with arsenic + selenite. Urine samples and livers were collected after 20 weeks of continuous exposure. The urine samples were analyzed for arsenic species by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and real-time RT-qPCR analysis was performed for gene expression evaluation. A reduction in STAT3 expression was observed in the selenite-treated group. No differences in PSMD10 expression were found among groups. Histopathological analysis revealed hepatic lymphocytosis in selenite-treated animals. As a conclusion, long-term exposure to arsenic does not significantly alter the expression of STAT3 and PSMD10 oncogenes in the livers of hamsters; however, selenite down-regulates STAT3 expression and provokes lymphocytosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Elena Camacho-Moll
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey 64720, Nuevo León, Mexico; (M.E.C.-M.); (G.L.-G.)
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Vicerrectoría de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Monterrey, San Pedro Garza García 66238, Nuevo León, Mexico;
| | - Adriana Sampayo-Reyes
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, Mexico; (A.S.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.); (R.T.-G.)
| | | | - Gerardo Lozano-Garza
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey 64720, Nuevo León, Mexico; (M.E.C.-M.); (G.L.-G.)
| | - Gabriela Alarcón-Galván
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Vicerrectoría de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Monterrey, San Pedro Garza García 66238, Nuevo León, Mexico;
| | - Alba Hernández
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.H.); (R.M.)
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.H.); (R.M.)
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Alcocer-González
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, Mexico; (A.S.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.); (R.T.-G.)
| | - Reyes Tamez-Guerra
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, Mexico; (A.S.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.); (R.T.-G.)
| | - Mario Bermúdez de León
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey 64720, Nuevo León, Mexico; (M.E.C.-M.); (G.L.-G.)
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Vicerrectoría de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Monterrey, San Pedro Garza García 66238, Nuevo León, Mexico;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-81-8190-4035
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Peruru R, Dodoala S. Therapeutic potential of diosmin, a citrus flavonoid against arsenic-induced neurotoxicity via suppression of NOX 4 and its subunits. Indian J Pharmacol 2021; 53:132-142. [PMID: 34100397 PMCID: PMC8265410 DOI: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_837_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Water contaminated with arsenic affected millions of people worldwide and arsenic exposure is related to various neurological disorders. Hence, the current study was planned to investigate the neuroprotective activity of diosmin (DSN) against arsenic induced neurotoxicity as an attempt to identify therapeutic intervention to combat arsenicism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sodium arsenite an inducer of neurotoxicity was administered orally (13 mg/kg) and DSN treatment at two selected doses (50 and 100 mg/kg) was done for 21 days. Behavioral and biochemical variations were examined by various parameters. Furthermore, histopathological and immunohistochemistry studies were done with the brain sections. RESULTS: The behavioral studies evidenced that arsenic has suppressed the exploratory behavior and motor coordination in rats and DSN treatment has recovered the behavioral changes to normal. Arsenic administration has also found to induce oxidative stress and DSN co-treatment has ameliorated the oxidative stress markers. Interestingly, depleted levels of neurotransmitters were observed with the arsenic and it was restored back by the DSN treatment. Histopathological alterations like pyknosis of the neuronal cells were identified with arsenic exposure and subsided upon DSN co administration. Immunohistochemical studies have revealed the expression of NOX4 and its gp91phox and P47phox subunits and its suppression by DSN treatment may be the key therapeutic factor of it. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with DSN showed a beneficial effect in protecting against arsenic-induced neurotoxicity by suppressing the toxicity changes and the antioxidant effect of DSN might be attributed to its ability of suppressing NOX4 and its subunits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rupasree Peruru
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (Women's University), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Sujatha Dodoala
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (Women's University), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Weerasundara L, Ok YS, Bundschuh J. Selective removal of arsenic in water: A critical review. Environ Pollut 2021; 268:115668. [PMID: 33017746 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Selective removal of arsenic (As) is the key challenge for any of As removal mechanisms as this not only increases the efficiency of removal of the main As species (neutral As(III) and As(V) hydroxyl-anions) but also allows for a significant reduction of waste as it does not co-remove other solutes. Selective removal has a number of benefits: it increases the capacity and lifetime of units while lowering the cost of the process. Therefore, a sustainable selective mitigation method should be considered concerning the economic resources available, the ability of infrastructure to sustain water treatment, and the options for reuse and/or safe disposal of treatment residuals. Several methods of selective As removal have been developed, such as precipitation, adsorption and modified iron and ligand exchange. The biggest challenge in selective removal of As is the presence of phosphate in water which is chemically comparable with As(V). There are two types of mechanisms involved with As removal: Coulombic or ion exchange; and Lewis acid-base interaction. Solution pH is one of the major controlling factors limiting removal efficiency since most of the above-mentioned methods depend on complexation through electrostatic effects. The different features of two different As species make the selective removal process more difficult, especially under natural conditions. Most of the selective As removal methods involve hydrated Fe(III) oxides through Lewis acid-base interaction. Microbiological methods have been studied recently for selective removal of As, and although there have been only a small number of studies, the method shows remarkable results and indicates positive prospects for the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lakshika Weerasundara
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia.
| | - Yong-Sik Ok
- Korea Biochar Research Center & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia; UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Meakin CJ, Szilagyi JT, Avula V, Fry RC. Inorganic arsenic and its methylated metabolites as endocrine disruptors in the placenta: Mechanisms underpinning glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway perturbations. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 409:115305. [PMID: 33129825 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a significant public health concern with individuals around the globe exposed to harmful levels through contaminated drinking water. Exposure to iAs during pregnancy is of particular concern and has been associated with pregnancy complications and adverse child health later in life. Effects of in utero exposure may be mediated through alterations in key signaling pathways in the placenta that regulate fetal growth and development. A pathway of interest is the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)- signaling pathway, which is known to regulate fetal and placental development. While prior research has shown that iAs alters GR-associated gene expression in trophoblasts, the mechanisms that underlie these perturbations remain unknown. In the present study, we set out to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underpin observed alterations in GR-associated gene expression. We also aimed to determine whether the methylated metabolites of iAs, namely monomethyl‑arsenic (MMA) and dimethyl‑arsenic (DMA), also influence GR-associated signaling in the placenta. The data indicate that iAs alters GR activation in a dose-dependent manner, reduces nuclear translocation, and reduces DNA binding. Additionally, the results demonstrate that MMA and DMA alter the expression of eight GR-associated genes, modulate GR activation, and alter DNA binding. These data are significant as they highlight the role of iAs as an endocrine disruptor and for the first time explore the effects of MMA and DMA on endocrine signaling in the placenta.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra J Meakin
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John T Szilagyi
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vennela Avula
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Pullella K, Kotsopoulos J. Arsenic Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk: A Re-Evaluation of the Literature. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12113305. [PMID: 33126678 PMCID: PMC7694128 DOI: 10.3390/nu12113305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic is a widespread environmental contaminant and recognized carcinogen for the skin, bladder and lungs. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of studies that have investigated the effects of arsenic exposure and cancer risk at other sites, including the breast. However, to date, the association between arsenic exposure and breast cancer risk remains unclear. This article will provide an overview of arsenic metabolism, the clinically important biomarkers commonly used to assess arsenic exposure, and review the epidemiologic studies examining the role of arsenic exposure on breast cancer risk. Given the large burden of disease associated with breast cancer, it is of the upmost importance to identify risk factors and preventative strategies that could reduce cancer incidence. Limiting exposure to endemic environmental toxins, such as arsenic, represents one such strategy. More studies are required to better ascertain this relationship and to develop the public policy necessary to significantly reduce breast cancer incidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Pullella
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada;
- Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - Joanne Kotsopoulos
- Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +416-351-3732 x 2126
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Anwar N, Qureshi IZ, Spears N, Lopes F. In vitro administration of sodium arsenite in mouse prepubertal testis induces germ cell loss and apoptosis. Toxicol In Vitro 2020; 67:104924. [PMID: 32599264 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
High levels of arsenic contamination in drinking water pose serious health risks in numerous countries. The documentation reporting arsenic toxicity on reproduction and development is increasing, with evidence of arsenic inducing fertility and developmental issues. Nonetheless, the impact of arsenic exposure on the development of the male reproductive system is not fully elucidated. In the present study, we have investigated the direct effects of arsenic on prepubertal mouse testis using an in vitro testicular organ culture system. Culture medium was supplemented with a range of concentrations of sodium arsenite, examining effects of low (0.5 and 1 μM) and high (10, 50, 100 μM) concentrations, in cultures of post-natal day 5 CD1 mouse testis. In vitro exposure of low arsenic concentrations (0.5 or 1 μM) for 6 days did not cause any change in the testicular morphology, germ cells density, or apoptotic marker cleaved caspase 3 (CC3) expression. In contrast, exposure of prepubertal testis to high arsenic concentrations (10, 50 or 100 μM) induced drastic changes: severe destruction of testicular morphology, with loss of seminiferous tubule integrity; a dose-dependent decrease in germ cell density, and a hundred-fold increase in CC3 expression after 50 μM arsenic exposure. In conclusion, high arsenic treatment induced a dose-dependent induction of apoptosis and germ cell loss in prepubertal mouse testis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naureen Anwar
- Quaid-i-Azam University, Department of Animal Sciences, Laboratory of Animal and Human Physiology, PO Box 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Irfan Zia Qureshi
- Quaid-i-Azam University, Department of Animal Sciences, Laboratory of Animal and Human Physiology, PO Box 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Norah Spears
- University of Edinburgh, School of Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Lopes
- University of Edinburgh, School of Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh, United Kingdom..
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lucio M, Barbir R, Vučić Lovrenčić M, Canecki Varžić S, Ljubić S, Smirčić Duvnjak L, Šerić V, Milić M, Tariba Lovaković B, Krivohlavek A, Vinković Vrček I, Michalke B. Association between arsenic exposure and biomarkers of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Croatian population: A comparative observational pilot study. Sci Total Environ 2020; 720:137575. [PMID: 32143048 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to high inorganic As levels in drinking water has been related to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The association with low and moderate As levels, however, remains controversial and has yet not been studied in European populations. This study aimed to investigate possible association between As exposure and biomarkers of T2D in Croatian population. Observation recruited 86 adults from Eastern Croatia, where groundwater is contaminated with inorganic As, and 116 adults from Western Croatia, where As levels in drinking water are low. Both populations were divided in patient groups (T2D or prediabetes) and healthy controls. Exposure was assessed by determining total As in blood and urine and As metabolites in urine. Eastern Croatian population had a significantly higher content of As in urine than Western, whereas the opposite was true for arsenobetain. Total As and As metabolites in urine positively correlated with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and negatively with albuminuria. This study provides important preliminary data on the levels of As in urine and blood and their association with biomarkers of T2D in Croatian population exposed to low or moderate levels of As through drinking water as a solid basis for further research of the pathophysiological effects of such As exposure on the status and complications of diabetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Lucio
- Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Rinea Barbir
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Silvija Canecki Varžić
- University Hospital Centre Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Spomenka Ljubić
- University Hospital Merkur, Zajčeva 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Vatroslav Šerić
- University Hospital Centre Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Mirta Milić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Blanka Tariba Lovaković
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Adela Krivohlavek
- Teaching Institute of Public Health "Dr. Andrija Štampar", Mirogojska 16, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Vinković Vrček
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Bernhard Michalke
- Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany..
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Exposure to arsenic in contaminated drinking water is an emerging public health problem that impacts more than 200 million people worldwide. Accumulating lines of evidence from epidemiological studies revealed that chronic exposure to arsenic can result in various human diseases including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Arsenic is also classified as a Group I human carcinogen. In this review, we survey extensively different modes of action for arsenic-induced carcinogenesis, with focus being placed on arsenic-mediated impairment of DNA repair pathways. Inorganic arsenic can be bioactivated by methylation, and the ensuing products are highly genotoxic. Bioactivation of arsenicals also elicits the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), which can directly damage DNA and modify cysteine residues in proteins. Results from recent studies suggest zinc finger proteins as crucial molecular targets for direct binding to As3+ or for modifications by arsenic-induced ROS/RNS, which may constitute a common mechanism underlying arsenic-induced perturbations of DNA repair.
Collapse
|
21
|
Ahn J, Boroje IJ, Ferdosi H, Kramer ZJ, Lamm SH. Prostate Cancer Incidence in U.S. Counties and Low Levels of Arsenic in Drinking Water. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17030960. [PMID: 32033184 PMCID: PMC7036874 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background: Although inorganic arsenic in drinking water at high levels (100s–1000s μg/L [ppb]) increases cancer risk (skin, bladder, lung, and possibly prostate), the evidence at lower levels is limited. Methods: We conducted an ecologic analysis of the dose-response relationship between prostate cancer incidence and low arsenic levels in drinking water in a large study of U.S. counties (N = 710). County arsenic levels were <200 ug/L with median <100 ug/L and dependency greater than 10%. Groundwater well usage, water arsenic levels, prostate cancer incidence rates (2009–2013), and co-variate data were obtained from various U.S. governmental agencies. Poisson and negative-binomial regression analyses and stratified analysis were performed. Results: The best fitting polynomial analysis yielded a J-shaped linear-quadratic model. Linear and quadratic terms were significant (p < 0.001) in the Poisson model, and the quadratic term was significant (p < 0.05) in the negative binomial model. This model indicated a decreasing risk of prostate cancer with increasing arsenic level in the low range and increasing risk above. Conclusions: This study of prostate cancer incidence in US counties with low levels of arsenic in their well-water arsenic levels finds a j-shaped model with decreasing risk at very low levels and increasing risk at higher levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaeil Ahn
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
| | - Isabella J. Boroje
- Center for Epidemiology and Environmental Health (CEOH, LLC), Washington, DC 20016, USA; (I.J.B.); (H.F.); (Z.J.K.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Hamid Ferdosi
- Center for Epidemiology and Environmental Health (CEOH, LLC), Washington, DC 20016, USA; (I.J.B.); (H.F.); (Z.J.K.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Zachary J. Kramer
- Center for Epidemiology and Environmental Health (CEOH, LLC), Washington, DC 20016, USA; (I.J.B.); (H.F.); (Z.J.K.)
| | - Steven H. Lamm
- Center for Epidemiology and Environmental Health (CEOH, LLC), Washington, DC 20016, USA; (I.J.B.); (H.F.); (Z.J.K.)
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Jiménez-Córdova MI, Sánchez-Peña LC, Barrera-Hernández Á, González-Horta C, Barbier OC, Del Razo LM. Fluoride exposure is associated with altered metabolism of arsenic in an adult Mexican population. Sci Total Environ 2019; 684:621-628. [PMID: 31158625 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) are two common groundwater toxicants. The toxicity of As is closely related to As metabolism, and several biological and environmental factors have been associated with As modification. However, limited information about the effect of F exposure on the modification of the As metabolism profile has been described. The aim of this study was to assess the interaction effect of AsF coexposure on the As metabolism profile in an adult population environmentally exposed to low-moderate As levels. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 236 adults from three Mexican communities. F and As concentrations were quantified in water samples. The concentrations of urinary F and As species [inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylated arsenic (MAs) and dimethylated arsenic (DMAs)] were also determined and used as exposure biomarkers. As species percentages and methylation indices were estimated to evaluate the As methylation profile. Our results showed a relationship between the water and urine concentrations of both contaminants and, a significant correlation between the As and F concentrations in water and urine samples. A statistically significant interaction of F and As exposure on the increase in MAs% (β = 0.16, p = 0.018) and the decrease in DMAs% (β = -0.3, p = 0.034), PMI (β = -0.07, p = 0.052) and SMI (β = -0.13, p = 0.097) was observed. These findings indicate that drinking water is the main source of AsF coexposure and suggest that F exposure decreases As methylation capacity. However, additional large and prospective studies are required to confirm our findings, and to elucidate the involved mechanisms of interaction and their implications in adverse health effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica I Jiménez-Córdova
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luz C Sánchez-Peña
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ángel Barrera-Hernández
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Olivier C Barbier
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luz M Del Razo
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kozłowska L, Janasik B, Nowicka K, Wąsowicz W. A urinary metabolomics study of a Polish subpopulation environmentally exposed to arsenic. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2019; 54:44-54. [PMID: 31109620 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost every organ in the human body can be affected by arsenic (As) exposure associated with various industrial processes, as well as with contaminated food, drinking water and polluted air. Much is known about high exposure to inorganic As but there is little data on the metabolic changes connected to a low exposure e.g. in people living in smelter areas. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study were: (1) characterise urinary concentration of total arsenic (AsT) in Polish inhabitants of the vicinity of a copper smelter area, (2) speciation analysis of various forms of arsenic in girls (GL), boys (BL), women (WL) and men (ML) with a slightly elevated AsT concentration and age/sex matched groups with a substantially higher AsT concentration, (GH, BH, WH and MH - respectively), (3) comparison of metabolomics profiles of urine between the age/sex matched people with low and high AsT concentrations. METHODS Urine samples were analysed for total arsenic and its chemical forms (AsIII; AsV, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine) using HPLC-ICP-MS. Untargeted metabolomics analysis of the urine samples was performed using UPLC system connected to Q-TOF-MS equipped with an electrospray source. The XCMS Online program was applied for feature detection, retention time correction, alignment, statistics, annotation and identification. Potentially identified compounds were fragmented and resulting spectra were compared to the spectra in the Human Metabolome Database. RESULTS Urine concentration of AsT was, as follows: GL 16.40 ± 0.83; GH 115.23 ± 50.52; BL 16.48 ± 0.83; BH 95.00 ± 50.03; WL 16.93 ± 1.21; WH 170.13 ± 96.47; ML 16.91 ± 1.20; MH 151.71 ± 84.31 μg/l and percentage of arsenobetaine in AsT was, as follows: GL 65.5 ± 13.8%, GH 87.2 ± 4.7%, BL 59.8 ± 12.5%, BH 90.5 ± 2.4%, WL 50.8 ± 14.1%, WH 90.4 ± 3.5%, ML 53.3 ± 10.0%, MH 74.6 ± 20.2%. In the people with low and high AsT concentrations there were significant differences in the intensity of signal (is.) from numerous compounds being metabolites of neurotransmitters, nicotine and hormones transformation (serotonin in the girls and women; catecholamines in the girls, boys and women; mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids in the boys, androgens in the women and men and nicotine in the boys, women and men). These changes might have been associated with higher is. from metabolites of leucine, tryptophan, purine degradation (in the GH, WH), urea cycle (in the WH and MH), glycolysis (in the WH) and with lower is. from metabolites of tricarboxylic acid cycle (in the BH) in comparison with low AsT matched groups. In the MH vs. ML higher is. from metabolite of lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal) was observed. Additionally, the presence of significant differences was reported in is. from food components metabolites, which might have modulated the negative effects of As (vitamin C in the girls, boys and men, vitamin B6 in the girls, boys and women as well as phenolic compounds in the boys and girls). We hypothesize that the observed higher is. from metabolites of sulphate (in MH) and glucoronate degradation (in BH, WH and MH) than in the matched low AsT groups may be related to the impaired glucuronidation and sulfonation and higher is. from catecholamines, nicotine and hormones. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that even a low exposure to As is associated with metabolic changes and that urine metabolomics studies could be a good tool to reflect their wide spectrum connected to specific environmental exposure to As, e.g. in smelter areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucyna Kozłowska
- Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Beata Janasik
- Departament of Biological and Environmental Monitoring, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 8, 91-348, Łódź, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Nowicka
- Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Wojciech Wąsowicz
- Departament of Biological and Environmental Monitoring, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 8, 91-348, Łódź, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Panwar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Tanmay Dutta
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Gao S, Mostofa MG, Quamruzzaman Q, Rahman M, Rahman M, Su L, Hsueh YM, Weisskopf M, Coull B, Christiani DC. Gene-environment interaction and maternal arsenic methylation efficiency during pregnancy. Environ Int 2019; 125:43-50. [PMID: 30703610 PMCID: PMC7592115 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may influence arsenic methylation efficiency, affecting arsenic metabolism. Whether gene-environment interactions affect arsenic metabolism during pregnancy remains unclear, which may have implications for pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate main effects as well as potential SNP-arsenic interactions on arsenic methylation efficiency in pregnant women. METHOD We recruited 1613 pregnant women in Bangladesh, and collected two urine samples from each participant, one at 4-16 weeks, and the second at 21-37 weeks of pregnancy. We determined the proportions of each arsenic metabolite [inorganic As (iAs)%, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA)%, and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)%] from the total urinary arsenic level of each sample. A panel of 63 candidate SNPs was selected for genotyping based on their reported associations with arsenic metabolism (including in As3MT, N6AMT1, and GSTO2 genes). We used linear regression models to assess the association between each SNP and DMA% with an additive allelic assumption, as well as SNP-arsenic interaction on DMA%. These analyses were performed separately for two urine collection time-points to capture differences in susceptibility to arsenic toxicity. RESULT Intron variants for As3MT were associated with DMA%. rs9527 (β = -2.98%, PFDR = 0.008) and rs1046778 (β = 1.64%, PFDR = 0.008) were associated with this measure in the early gestational period; rs3740393 (β = 2.54%, PFDR = 0.002) and rs1046778 (β = 1.97%, PFDR = 0.003) in the mid-to-late gestational period. Further, As3MT, GSTO2, and N6AMT1 polymorphisms showed different effect sizes on DMA% conditional on arsenic exposure levels. However, SNP-arsenic interactions were not statistically significant after adjusting for false discovery rate (FDR). rs1048546 in N6AMT1 had the highest significance level in the SNP-arsenic interaction test during mid-to-late gestation (β = -1.8% vs. 1.4%, PGxE_FDR = 0.075). Finally, As3MT and As3MT/CNNM2 haplotypes were associated with DMA% at both time points. CONCLUSION We found that not all genetic associations reported in arsenic methylation efficiency replicate in pregnant women. Arsenic exposure level has a limited effect in modifying the association between genetic variation and arsenic methylation efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shangzhi Gao
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mohammad Rahman
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Li Su
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu-Mei Hsueh
- Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Marc Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C Christiani
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Pierce BL, Tong L, Dean S, Argos M, Jasmine F, Rakibuz-Zaman M, Sarwar G, Islam MT, Shahriar H, Islam T, Rahman M, Yunus M, Lynch VJ, Oglesbee D, Graziano JH, Kibriya MG, Gamble MV, Ahsan H. A missense variant in FTCD is associated with arsenic metabolism and toxicity phenotypes in Bangladesh. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007984. [PMID: 30893314 PMCID: PMC6443193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a carcinogen, and exposure to iAs via food and water is a global public health problem. iAs-contaminated drinking water alone affects >100 million people worldwide, including ~50 million in Bangladesh. Once absorbed into the blood stream, most iAs is converted to mono-methylated (MMA) and then di-methylated (DMA) forms, facilitating excretion in urine. Arsenic metabolism efficiency varies among individuals, in part due to genetic variation near AS3MT (arsenite methyltransferase; 10q24.32). To identify additional arsenic metabolism loci, we measured protein-coding variants across the human exome for 1,660 Bangladeshi individuals participating in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS). Among the 19,992 coding variants analyzed exome-wide, the minor allele (A) of rs61735836 (p.Val101Met) in exon 3 of FTCD (formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase) was associated with increased urinary iAs% (P = 8x10-13), increased MMA% (P = 2x10-16) and decreased DMA% (P = 6x10-23). Among 2,401 individuals with arsenic-induced skin lesions (an indicator of arsenic toxicity and cancer risk) and 2,472 controls, carrying the low-efficiency A allele (frequency = 7%) was associated with increased skin lesion risk (odds ratio = 1.35; P = 1x10-5). rs61735836 is in weak linkage disequilibrium with all nearby variants. The high-efficiency/major allele (G/Valine) is human-specific and eliminates a start codon at the first 5´-proximal Kozak sequence in FTCD, suggesting selection against an alternative translation start site. FTCD is critical for catabolism of histidine, a process that generates one-carbon units that can enter the one-carbon/folate cycle, which provides methyl groups for arsenic metabolism. In our study population, FTCD and AS3MT SNPs together explain ~10% of the variation in DMA% and support a causal effect of arsenic metabolism efficiency on arsenic toxicity (i.e., skin lesions). In summary, this work identifies a coding variant in FTCD associated with arsenic metabolism efficiency, providing new evidence supporting the established link between one-carbon/folate metabolism and arsenic toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L. Pierce
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL United States of America
| | - Lin Tong
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Samantha Dean
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Maria Argos
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Farzana Jasmine
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | | | - Golam Sarwar
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Hasan Shahriar
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tariqul Islam
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahfuzar Rahman
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Yunus
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Vincent J. Lynch
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Devin Oglesbee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Joseph H. Graziano
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Muhammad G. Kibriya
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Mary V. Gamble
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Habibul Ahsan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL United States of America
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Institute for Population and Precision Health, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Roggenbeck BA, Leslie EM, Walk ST, Schmidt EE. Redox metabolism of ingested arsenic: Integrated activities of microbiome and host on toxicological outcomes. Current Opinion in Toxicology 2019; 13:90-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
28
|
Carmean CM, Seino S. Braving the Element: Pancreatic β-Cell Dysfunction and Adaptation in Response to Arsenic Exposure. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:344. [PMID: 31258514 PMCID: PMC6587364 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious global health problem, currently affecting an estimated 451 million people worldwide. T2DM is characterized by hyperglycemia and low insulin relative to the metabolic demand. The precise contributing factors for a given individual vary, but generally include a combination of insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion. Ultimately, the progression to diabetes occurs only after β-cells fail to meet the needs of the individual. The stresses placed upon β-cells in this context manifest as increased oxidative damage, local inflammation, and ER stress, often inciting a destructive spiral of β-cell death, increased metabolic stress due to further insufficiency, and additional β-cell death. Several pathways controlling insulin resistance and β-cell adaptation/survival are affected by a class of exogenous bioactive compounds deemed endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Epidemiological studies have shown that, in several regions throughout the world, exposure to the EDC inorganic arsenic (iAs) correlates significantly with T2DM. It has been proposed that a lifetime of exposure to iAs may exacerbate problems with both insulin sensitivity as well as β-cell function/survival, promoting the development of T2DM. This review focuses on the mechanisms of iAs action as they relate to known adaptive and maladaptive pathways in pancreatic β-cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Carmean
- Division of Molecular and Metabolic Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Christopher M. Carmean
| | - Susumu Seino
- Division of Molecular and Metabolic Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- Susumu Seino
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Vanderschee CR, Kuter D, Bolt AM, Lo F, Feng R, Thieme J, Chen-wiegart YK, Williams G, Mann KK, Bohle DS. Accumulation of persistent tungsten in bone as in situ generated polytungstate. Commun Chem 2018; 1. [DOI: 10.1038/s42004-017-0007-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
|
30
|
Minichilli F, Bianchi F, Ronchi AM, Gorini F, Bustaffa E. Urinary Arsenic in Human Samples from Areas Characterized by Natural or Anthropogenic Pollution in Italy. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018; 15:E299. [PMID: 29425136 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic is ubiquitous and has a potentially adverse impact on human health. We compared the distribution of concentrations of urinary inorganic arsenic plus methylated forms (uc(iAs+MMA+DMA)) in four Italian areas with other international studies, and we assessed the relationship between uc(iAs+MMA+DMA) and various exposure factors. We conducted a human biomonitoring study on 271 subjects (132 men) aged 20-44, randomly sampled and stratified by area, gender, and age. Data on environmental and occupational exposure and dietary habits were collected through a questionnaire. Arsenic was speciated using chromatographic separation and inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Associations between uc(iAs+MMA+DMA) and exposure factors were evaluated using the geometric mean ratio (GMR) with a 90% confidence interval by stepwise multiple regression analysis. The 95th percentile value of uc(iAs+MMA+DMA) for the whole sample (86.28 µg/L) was higher than other national studies worldwide. A statistical significant correlation was found between uc(iAs+MMA+DMA) and occupational exposure (GMR: 2.68 [1.79-4.00]), GSTT gene (GMR: 0.68 [0.52-0.80]), consumption of tap water (GMR: 1.35 [1.02-1.77]), seafood (GMR: 1.44 [1.11-1.88]), whole milk (GMR: 1.34 [1.04-1.73]), and fruit/vegetables (GMR: 1.37 [1.03-1.82]). This study demonstrated the utility of uc(iAs+MMA+DMA) as a biomarker to assess environmental exposure. In a public health context, this information could be used to support remedial action, to prevent individuals from being further exposed to environmental arsenic sources.
Collapse
|
31
|
Grau-Perez M, Kuo CC, Gribble MO, Balakrishnan P, Jones Spratlen M, Vaidya D, Francesconi KA, Goessler W, Guallar E, Silbergeld EK, Umans JG, Best LG, Lee ET, Howard BV, Cole SA, Navas-Acien A. Association of Low-Moderate Arsenic Exposure and Arsenic Metabolism with Incident Diabetes and Insulin Resistance in the Strong Heart Family Study. Environ Health Perspect 2017; 125:127004. [PMID: 29373862 PMCID: PMC5963590 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High arsenic exposure has been related to diabetes, but at low-moderate levels the evidence is mixed. Arsenic metabolism, which is partly genetically controlled and may rely on certain B vitamins, plays a role in arsenic toxicity. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the prospective association of arsenic exposure and metabolism with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. METHODS We included 1,838 American Indian men and women free of diabetes (median age, 36 y). Arsenic exposure was assessed as the sum of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonate (MMA), and dimethylarsinate (DMA) urine concentrations (ΣAs). Arsenic metabolism was evaluated by the proportions of iAs, MMA, and DMA over their sum (iAs%, MMA%, and DMA%). Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) was measured at baseline and follow-up visits. Incident diabetes was evaluated at follow-up. RESULTS Median ΣAs, iAs%, MMA%, and DMA% was 4.4 μg/g creatinine, 9.5%, 14.4%, and 75.6%, respectively. Over 10,327 person-years of follow-up, 252 participants developed diabetes. Median HOMA2-IR at baseline was 1.5. The fully adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] for incident diabetes per an interquartile range increase in ΣAs was 1.57 (95% CI: 1.18, 2.08) in participants without prediabetes at baseline. Arsenic metabolism was not associated with incident diabetes. ΣAs was positively associated with HOMA2-IR at baseline but negatively with HOMA2-IR at follow-up. Increased MMA% was associated with lower HOMA2-IR when either iAs% or DMA% decreased. The association of arsenic metabolism with HOMA2-IR differed by B-vitamin intake and AS3MT genetics variants. CONCLUSIONS Among participants without baseline prediabetes, arsenic exposure was associated with incident diabetes. Low MMA% was cross-sectional and prospectively associated with higher HOMA2-IR. Research is needed to confirm possible interactions of arsenic metabolism with B vitamins and AS3MT variants on diabetes risk. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2566.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grau-Perez
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Chin-Chi Kuo
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Big Data Center, China Medical University Hospital , China Medical University , Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Matthew O Gribble
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Poojitha Balakrishnan
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Miranda Jones Spratlen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Dhananjay Vaidya
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Eliseo Guallar
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ellen K Silbergeld
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason G Umans
- Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Washington, DC, USA
- MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Lyle G Best
- Department of Epidemiology, Missouri Breaks Industries Research, Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota, USA
| | - Elisa T Lee
- Center for American Indian Health Research, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Barbara V Howard
- Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Washington, DC, USA
- MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Shelley A Cole
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Bommarito PA, Martin E, Smeester L, Palys T, Baker ER, Karagas MR, Fry RC. Fetal-sex dependent genomic responses in the circulating lymphocytes of arsenic-exposed pregnant women in New Hampshire. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 73:184-195. [PMID: 28793237 PMCID: PMC6130838 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) during pregnancy is associated with adverse health outcomes present both at birth and later in life. A biological mechanism may include epigenetic and genomic alterations in fetal genes involved in immune functioning. To investigate the role of the maternal immune response to in utero iAs exposure, we conducted an analysis of the expression of immune-related genes in pregnant women from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. A set of 31 genes was identified with altered expression in association with levels of urinary total arsenic, urinary iAs, urinary monomethylated arsenic and urinary dimethylated arsenic. Notably, maternal gene expression signatures differed when stratified on fetal sex, with a more robust inflammatory response observed in male pregnancies. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes were also related to birth outcomes. These findings highlight the sex-dependent nature of the maternal iAs-induced inflammatory response in relationship to fetal outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paige A Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Martin
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lisa Smeester
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Thomas Palys
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emily R Baker
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) poses a major threat to worldwide human health, and yet the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxic effects associated with iAs exposure are not well understood. There is increasing experimental evidence indicating that epigenetic modifications may play a major role in the development of diseases associated with exposure to environmental toxicants. Research in the field has firmly established that iAs exposure is associated with epigenetic alterations including changes in DNA methylation, miRNA abundance, and post-translational histone modifications. Here, we summarize recent studies that have expanded the current knowledge of these relationships. These studies have pinpointed specific regions of the genome and genes that are targets of arsenical-induced epigenetic changes, including those associated with in utero iAs exposure. The recent literature indicates that iAs biotransformation likely plays an important role in the relationship between iAs exposure and the epigenome, in addition to the sex and genetic background of individuals. The research also shows that relatively low to moderate exposure to iAs is associated with epigenetic effects. However, while it is well established that arsenicals can alter components of the epigenome, in many cases, the biological significance of these alterations remains unknown. The manner by which these and future studies may help inform the role of epigenetic modifications in the development of iAs-associated disease is evaluated and the need for functional validation emphasized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A. Bailey
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| |
Collapse
|