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Xu L, Zhou K, Huang X, Chen H, Dong H, Chen Q. Whole-genome resequencing provides insights into the diversity and adaptation to desert environment in Xinjiang Mongolian cattle. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:176. [PMID: 38355434 PMCID: PMC10865613 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10084-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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xinjiang Mongolian cattle is an indigenous breed that inhabits the Taklimakan Desert and is characterized by its small body size. However, the genomic diversity, origin, and genetic basis underlying the adaptation to the desert environment have been poorly studied. RESULTS We analyzed patterns of Xinjiang Mongolian cattle genetic variation by sequencing 20 genomes together with seven previously sequenced genomes and comparing them to the 134 genomes of nine representative breeds worldwide. Among the breeds of Bos taurus, we found the highest nucleotide diversity (0.0024) associated with the lower inbreeding coefficient (2.0110-6), the lowest linkage disequilibrium (r2 = 0.3889 at distance of 10 kb), and the highest effective population size (181 at 20 generations ago) in Xinjiang Mongolian cattle. The genomic diversity pattern could be explained by a limited introgression of Bos indicus genes. More importantly, similarly to desert-adapted camel and same-habitat sheep, we also identified signatures of selection including genes, GO terms, and/or KEGG pathways controlling water reabsorption and osmoregulation, metabolic regulation and energy balance, as well as small body size in Xinjiang Mongolian cattle. CONCLUSIONS Our results imply that Xinjiang Mongolian cattle might have acquired distinct genomic diversity by virtue of the introgression of Bos indicus, which helps understand the demographic history. The identification of selection signatures can provide novel insights into the genomic basis underlying the adaptation of Xinjiang Mongolian cattle to the desert environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xu
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Kaiqing Zhou
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xixia Huang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hong Chen
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hong Dong
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Qiuming Chen
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
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Alam MA, Mukherjee A, Bhattacharya P, Bundschuh J. An appraisal of the principal concerns and controlling factors for Arsenic contamination in Chile. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11168. [PMID: 37429943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38437-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Although geogenic Arsenic (As) contamination is well-recognized in northern Chile, it is not restricted to this part of the country, as the geological conditions favoring As release to the human environment exist across the country as well, although not at the same level, based on comparatively fewer studies in central and southern Chile. The present work provides a critical evaluation of As sources, pathways, and controls with reports and case studies from across the country based on an exhaustive bibliographic review of its reported geogenic sources and processes that affect its occurrence, systematization, and critical revision of this information. Arc magmatism and associated geothermal activities, identified as the primary As sources, are present across the Chilean Andes, except for the Pampean Flat Slab and Patagonian Volcanic Gap. Metal sulfide ore zones, extending from the country's far north to the south-central part, are the second most important geogenic As source. While natural leaching of As-rich mineral deposits contaminates the water in contact, associated mining, and metallurgical activities result in additional As release into the human environment through mining waste and tailings. Moreover, crustal thickness has been suggested as a principal controlling factor for As release, whose southward decrease has been correlated with lower As values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ayaz Alam
- Departamento de Ingeniería Geoespacial y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Enrique Kirberg Baltiansky n° 03, Estación Central, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile.
| | - Abhijit Mukherjee
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Prosun Bhattacharya
- KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
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De Loma J, Vicente M, Tirado N, Ascui F, Vahter M, Gardon J, Schlebusch CM, Broberg K. Human adaptation to arsenic in Bolivians living in the Andes. Chemosphere 2022; 301:134764. [PMID: 35490756 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Humans living in the Andes Mountains have been historically exposed to arsenic from natural sources, including drinking water. Enzymatic methylation of arsenic allows it to be excreted more efficiently by the human body. Adaptation to high-arsenic environments via enhanced methylation and excretion of arsenic was first reported in indigenous women in the Argentinean Andes, but whether adaptation to arsenic is a general phenomenon across native populations from the Andes Mountains remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated whether adaptation to arsenic has occurred in the Bolivian Andes by studying indigenous groups who belong to the Aymara-Quechua and Uru ethnicities and have lived in the Bolivian Andes for generations. Our population genetics methods, including genome-wide selection scans based on linkage disequilibrium patterns and allele frequency differences, in combination with targeted and whole-genome sequencing and genotype-phenotype association analyses, detected signatures of positive selection near the gene encoding arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT), the main arsenic methylating enzyme. This was among the strongest selection signals (top 0.5% signals via locus-specific branch length and extended haplotype homozygosity tests) at a genome-wide level in the Bolivian study groups. We found a large haplotype block of 676 kb in the AS3MT region and identified candidate functional variants for further analysis. Moreover, our analyses revealed associations between AS3MT variants and the fraction of mono-methylated arsenic in urine and showed that the Bolivian study groups had the highest frequency of alleles associated with more efficient arsenic metabolism reported so far. Our data support the idea that arsenic exposure has been a driver for human adaptation to tolerate arsenic through more efficient arsenic detoxification in different Andean populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica De Loma
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mário Vicente
- Human Evolution, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Noemi Tirado
- Genetics Institute, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Franz Ascui
- Programa de Salud Familiar Comunitaria e Intercultural, Ministerio de Salud Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Marie Vahter
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jacques Gardon
- Hydrosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Montpellier, France
| | - Carina M Schlebusch
- Human Evolution, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; SciLifeLab Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Caro-Consuegra R, Nieves-Colón MA, Rawls E, Rubin-de-Celis V, Lizárraga B, Vidaurre T, Sandoval K, Fejerman L, Stone AC, Moreno-Estrada A, Bosch E. Uncovering signals of positive selection in Peruvian populations from three ecological regions. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6647595. [PMID: 35860855 PMCID: PMC9356722 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Perú hosts extremely diverse ecosystems which can be broadly classified into three major ecoregions: the Pacific desert coast, the Andean highlands, and the Amazon rainforest. Since its initial peopling approximately 12,000 years ago, the populations inhabiting such ecoregions might have differentially adapted to their contrasting environmental pressures. Previous studies have described several candidate genes underlying adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia among Andean highlanders. However, the adaptive genetic diversity of coastal and rainforest populations has been less studied. Here, we gathered genome-wide SNP-array data from 286 Peruvians living across the three ecoregions and analysed signals of recent positive selection through population differentiation and haplotype-based selection scans. Among highland populations, we identify candidate genes related to cardiovascular function (TLL1, DUSP27, TBX5, PLXNA4, SGCD), to the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor pathway (TGFA, APIP), to skin pigmentation (MITF), as well as to glucose (GLIS3) and glycogen metabolism (PPP1R3C, GANC). In contrast, most signatures of adaptation in coastal and rainforest populations comprise candidate genes related to the immune system (including SIGLEC8, TRIM21, CD44 and ICAM1 in the coast; CBLB and PRDM1 in rainforest and the BRD2- HLA-DOA- HLA-DPA1 region in both), possibly as a result of strong pathogen-driven selection. This study identifies candidate genes related to human adaptation to the diverse environments of South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Caro-Consuegra
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Maria A Nieves-Colón
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.,School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Erin Rawls
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Verónica Rubin-de-Celis
- Laboratorio de Genómica Molecular Evolutiva, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Perú
| | - Beatriz Lizárraga
- Emeritus Professor, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú
| | | | - Karla Sandoval
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Laura Fejerman
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Anne C Stone
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Andrés Moreno-Estrada
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Elena Bosch
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Reus, Spain
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Reyes-Madrid M, Flores-Alvarado S, Pezo-Valderrama P, Orellana-Soto M, Apata M, Moraga M, de Saint Pierre M. An approach on the migratory processes in the north of Chile based on Y chromosome analysis. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23736. [PMID: 35263492 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Northern Chile is an area characterized by a complex cultural and demographic trajectory. During the last few centuries, this complex trajectory has become the destination of intra- and intercontinental migratory waves. In this study, we analyzed the Y chromosome to evaluate how migratory and admixture patterns have affected the genetic composition of the populations in northern Chile compared with other populations of the country. METHODS A total of 311 people from urban (Antofagasta and Calama), rural (Azapa and Camarones), and Native (Aymara and Atacameño) populations from northern Chile were characterized by 26 SNPs and the STR DYS393 of the Y chromosome, along with 69 individuals from Native populations (Mapuche, Pehuenche, and Huilliche) from southern Chile. In addition to characterizing the paternal lineages, multivariate analyses were performed to compare with published data from other Chilean populations. RESULTS Both the Antofagasta and Calama populations show differences compared with the rest of the Chilean population. On one side, Antofagasta shows a high diversity of non-Amerindian lineages, including the highest value for haplogroup I (12%) for all Chileans populations. Otherwise, Calama has the highest value of any Chilean urban population (31.9%) for Amerindian lineages, including the only Q-M3 sub-lineage detected in the entire sample. Regarding the Native population, Aymara presents the highest percentage of Q-M3 (94.4%). CONCLUSIONS The Y chromosome haplogroup distribution allowed us to identify recent migratory processes typical of the northern populations studied. These have shaped the demographic and cultural dynamics of local and migrant groups in the territory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Reyes-Madrid
- Departamento de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sandra Flores-Alvarado
- Programa de Bioestadística, Instituto de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Michael Orellana-Soto
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario Apata
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Moraga
- Departamento de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michelle de Saint Pierre
- Departamento de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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De Loma J, Krais AM, Lindh CH, Mamani J, Tirado N, Gardon J, Broberg K. Arsenic exposure and biomarkers for oxidative stress and telomere length in indigenous populations in Bolivia. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2022; 231:113194. [PMID: 35051766 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women living in the Bolivian Andes are environmentally exposed to arsenic, yet there is scarce information about arsenic-related effects in this region. Several biomarkers for telomere length and oxidative stress (mitochondrial DNA copy number, mtDNAcn; 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine, 8-oxo-dG; and 4-hydroxy nonenal mercapturic acid, 4-HNE-MA) have been previously linked to arsenic, and some of which are prospective biomarkers for cancer risk. OBJECTIVE AND HYPOTHESIS To evaluate associations between arsenic exposure and telomere length, mtDNAcn, 8-oxo-dG, and 4-HNE-MA in Bolivians. Arsenic exposure was hypothesized to be positively associated with all four toxicity biomarkers, particularly in individuals with a less efficient arsenic metabolism. METHODS The study encompassed 193 indigenous women. Arsenic exposure was assessed in urine as the sum of inorganic arsenic metabolite concentrations (U-As) measured by HPLC-HG-ICP-MS, and in whole blood as total arsenic (B-As) measured by ICP-MS. Efficiency of arsenic metabolism was evaluated by a polymorphism (rs3740393) in the main arsenic methylating gene AS3MT measured by TaqMan allelic discrimination, and by the relative fractions of urinary inorganic arsenic metabolites. Telomere length and mtDNAcn were determined in peripheral blood leukocytes by quantitative PCR, and urinary 8-oxo-dG and 4-HNE-MA by LC-MS/MS. RESULTS U-As and B-As were associated with longer telomeres and higher mtDNAcn, particularly in women with a less efficient arsenic metabolism. Urinary 8-oxo-dG and 4-HNE-MA were positively associated with U-As, but only 4-HNE-MA was associated with B-As. Arsenic metabolism efficiency did not have a clear effect on the concentrations of either of these biomarkers. CONCLUSION Bolivian women showed indications of arsenic toxicity, measured by four different biomarkers. Telomere length, mtDNAcn, and 4-HNE-MA were positively associated with both U-As and B-As. The association of arsenic exposure with telomere length and mtDNAcn was only present in Bolivian women with a less efficient metabolism. These findings call for additional efforts to evaluate and reduce arsenic exposure in Bolivia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica De Loma
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Annette M Krais
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Josue Mamani
- Genetics Institute, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Noemi Tirado
- Genetics Institute, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Jacques Gardon
- Hydrosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Montpellier, France
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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De Giovanni A, Giuliani C, Marini M, Luiselli D. Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective. Applied Sciences 2021; 11:11179. [DOI: 10.3390/app112311179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Eating seafood has numerous health benefits; however, it constitutes one of the main sources of exposure to several harmful environmental pollutants, both of anthropogenic and natural origin. Among these, methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons give rise to concerns related to their possible effects on human biology. In the present review, we summarize the results of epidemiological investigations on the genetic component of individual susceptibility to methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in humans, and on the effects that these two pollutants have on human epigenetic profiles (DNA methylation). Then, we provide evidence that Mediterranean coastal communities represent an informative case study to investigate the potential impact of methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the human genome and epigenome, since they are characterized by a traditionally high local seafood consumption, and given the characteristics that render the Mediterranean Sea particularly polluted. Finally, we discuss the challenges of a molecular anthropological approach to this topic.
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Rocha JL, Godinho R, Brito JC, Nielsen R. Life in Deserts: The Genetic Basis of Mammalian Desert Adaptation. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:637-650. [PMID: 33863602 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Deserts are among the harshest environments on Earth. The multiple ages of different deserts and their global distribution provide a unique opportunity to study repeated adaptation at different timescales. Here, we summarize recent genomic research on the genetic mechanisms underlying desert adaptations in mammals. Several studies on different desert mammals show large overlap in functional classes of genes and pathways, consistent with the complexity and variety of phenotypes associated with desert adaptation to water and food scarcity and extreme temperatures. However, studies of desert adaptation are also challenged by a lack of accurate genotype-phenotype-environment maps. We encourage development of systems that facilitate functional analyses, but also acknowledge the need for more studies on a wider variety of desert mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana L Rocha
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Raquel Godinho
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 534, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - José C Brito
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rasmus Nielsen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Department of Statistics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94820, USA; Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, DK-1165 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Flores-Alvarado S, Orellana-Soto M, Moraga M. Ancestry and admixture of a southernmost Chilean population: The reflection of a migratory history. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 34:e23598. [PMID: 33763944 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Punta Arenas is a Chilean city situated on ancestral Aönikenk territory. The city was founded by 19th- and 20th-century colonists from Chile (Chiloé) and Europe (Croatia). This work uses uniparental and ancestry-informative markers (AIMs) to explore the effects of historic migratory and admixture patterns on the current genetic composition of Punta Arenas. METHODS We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and 141 AIMs obtained from 129 DNA samples from male residents with regional ancestry. After characterizing uniparental lineages and ancestry proportions, multivariate analysis was used to explore relationships among the various types of data. RESULTS Punta Arenas has an admixed population with three main genetic components: European (56.5%), northern Native (11.3%), and south-central Native (28.6%). The Native component is preponderant in the mtDNA (83.76%), while the foreign component predominates in the Y-chromosome (92.25%). Non-Native mtDNA lineages are associated with European genetic ancestry, and Native mtDNA lineages originated mainly in the southern and southernmost regions of Chile. Most non-Native Y-chromosome SNPs originated in Spain, and secondly, in Croatia. CONCLUSIONS The population of Punta Arenas is mainly of Chilote origin with south-central Native and Spanish ancestral components, as well as some Croatian components. The persistence of local Native lineages is notable, suggesting continuity with the ancestral populations of the region such as the Kawésqar, Aönikenk, Yámana, or Selknam peoples. This study contributes to our knowledge of local history and its links to national and global developments in genetic ancestry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Flores-Alvarado
- Programa de Bioestadística, Instituto de Salud Poblacional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Programa de Genética Humana, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael Orellana-Soto
- Programa de Genética Humana, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Moraga
- Programa de Genética Humana, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Simpson R, Cooper DML, Swanston T, Coulthard I, Varney TL. Historical overview and new directions in bioarchaeological trace element analysis: a review. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 2021; 13:24. [PMID: 33520004 PMCID: PMC7810633 DOI: 10.1007/s12520-020-01262-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Given their strong affinity for the skeleton, trace elements are often stored in bones and teeth long term. Diet, geography, health, disease, social status, activity, and occupation are some factors which may cause differential exposure to, and uptake of, trace elements, theoretically introducing variability in their concentrations and/or ratios in the skeleton. Trace element analysis of bioarchaeological remains has the potential, therefore, to provide rich insights into past human lifeways. This review provides a historical overview of bioarchaeological trace element analysis and comments on the current state of the discipline by highlighting approaches with growing momentum. Popularity for the discipline surged following preliminary studies in the 1960s to 1970s that demonstrated the utility of strontium (Sr) as a dietary indicator. During the 1980s, Sr/Ca ratio and multi-element studies were commonplace in bioarchaeology, linking trace elements with dietary phenomena. Interest in using trace elements for bioarchaeological inferences waned following a period of critiques in the late 1980s to 1990s that argued the discipline failed to account for diagenesis, simplified complex element uptake and regulation processes, and used several unsuitable elements for palaeodietary reconstruction (e.g. those under homeostatic regulation, those without a strong affinity for the skeleton). In the twenty-first century, trace element analyses have been primarily restricted to Sr and lead (Pb) isotope analysis and the study of toxic trace elements, though small pockets of bioarchaeology have continued to analyse multiple elements. Techniques such as micro-sampling, element mapping, and non-traditional stable isotope analysis have provided novel insights which hold the promise of helping to overcome limitations faced by the discipline. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12520-020-01262-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Simpson
- Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada
- Present Address: Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - David M. L. Cooper
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada
| | - Treena Swanston
- Department of Anthropology, Economics and Political Science, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | | | - Tamara L. Varney
- Department of Anthropology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON Canada
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Abstract
Evolutionary processes, including mutation, migration and natural selection, have influenced the prevalence and distribution of various disorders in humans. However, despite a few well-known examples, such as the APOL1 variants - which have undergone positive genetic selection for their ability to confer resistance to Trypanosoma brucei infection but confer a higher risk of chronic kidney disease - little is known about the effects of evolutionary processes that have shaped genetic variation on kidney disease. An understanding of basic concepts in evolutionary genetics provides an opportunity to consider how findings from ancient and archaic genomes could inform our knowledge of evolution and provide insights into how population migration and genetic admixture have shaped the current distribution and landscape of human kidney-associated diseases. Differences in exposures to infectious agents, environmental toxins, dietary components and climate also have the potential to influence the evolutionary genetics of kidneys. Of note, selective pressure on loci associated with kidney disease is often from non-kidney diseases, and thus it is important to understand how the link between genome-wide selected loci and kidney disease occurs in relation to secondary nephropathies.
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Arriaza B, Blumenstiel D, Amarasiriwardena D, Standen VG, Vizcarra A. Five thousand years of bellyaches: Exploring boron concentration in ancient populations of the Atacama Desert. Am J Phys Anthropol 2020; 174:254-267. [PMID: 33017865 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study explores whether ancient Atacama Desert populations in northern Chile were exposed to endemic boron contamination. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we studied 144 strands of ancient mummy hair, ranging from 3000 B.C. to 1500 A.D., excavated from the Lluta, Azapa, and Camarones valleys in northern Chile. We tested whether these ancient populations showed signs of significant boron concentration in hair tissue. RESULTS On average, all individuals from these valleys showed high boron concentrations, ranging from 1.5 to 4 times above the average boron concentration in contemporary hair (baseline <0.85 μg/g). The boron concentration in mummy hair varied according to the main geographic areas mentioned above. CONCLUSIONS The rivers of northern Chile have high geogenic boron concentrations. They contain 38 times above the recommended limit for human consumption. Geogenic boron contamination likely played a role in population morbidity and the types of crops that were cultivated in antiquity. The ancient populations were chronically affected by boron overexposure, suggesting that ancient geogenic water contamination should be considered when discussing the biocultural trajectories of ancient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Arriaza
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | - David Blumenstiel
- School of Natural Science, Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Vivien G Standen
- Departamento de Antropología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | - Arnoldo Vizcarra
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
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Roy NK, Murphy A, Costa M. Arsenic Methyltransferase and Methylation of Inorganic Arsenic. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1351. [PMID: 32971865 DOI: 10.3390/biom10091351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment, and exists predominantly as inorganic arsenite (As (III) and arsenate As (V)). Arsenic contamination of drinking water has long been recognized as a major global health concern. Arsenic exposure causes changes in skin color and lesions, and more severe health conditions such as black foot disease as well as various cancers originating in the lungs, skin, and bladder. In order to efficiently metabolize and excrete arsenic, it is methylated to monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acid. One single enzyme, arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT) is responsible for generating both metabolites. AS3MT has been purified from several mammalian and nonmammalian species, and its mRNA sequences were determined from amino acid sequences. With the advent of genome technology, mRNA sequences of AS3MT have been predicted from many species throughout the animal kingdom. Horizontal gene transfer had been postulated for this gene through phylogenetic studies, which suggests the importance of this gene in appropriately handling arsenic exposures in various organisms. An altered ability to methylate arsenic is dependent on specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in AS3MT. Reduced AS3MT activity resulting in poor metabolism of iAs has been shown to reduce expression of the tumor suppressor gene, p16, which is a potential pathway in arsenic carcinogenesis. Arsenic is also known to induce oxidative stress in cells. However, the presence of antioxidant response elements (AREs) in the promoter sequences of AS3MT in several species does not correlate with the ability to methylate arsenic. ARE elements are known to bind NRF2 and induce antioxidant enzymes to combat oxidative stress. NRF2 may be partly responsible for the biotransformation of iAs and the generation of methylated arsenic species via AS3MT. In this article, arsenic metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, a discussion of the AS3MT gene and its evolutionary history, and DNA methylation resulting from arsenic exposure have been reviewed.
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Koller BH, Snouwaert JN, Douillet C, Jania LA, El-Masri H, Thomas DJ, Stýblo M. Arsenic Metabolism in Mice Carrying a BORCS7/AS3MT Locus Humanized by Syntenic Replacement. Environ Health Perspect 2020; 128:87003. [PMID: 32779937 PMCID: PMC7418654 DOI: 10.1289/ehp6943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a significant public health problem. Methylation of iAs by arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT) controls iAs detoxification and modifies risks of iAs-induced diseases. Mechanisms underlying these diseases have been extensively studied using animal models. However, substantive differences between humans and laboratory animals in efficiency of iAs methylation have hindered the translational potential of the laboratory studies. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine whether humanization of the As3mt gene confers a human-like pattern of iAs metabolism in mice. METHODS We generated a mouse strain in which the As3mt gene along with the adjacent Borcs7 gene was humanized by syntenic replacement. We compared expression of the mouse As3mt and the human AS3MT and the rate and pattern of iAs metabolism in the wild-type and humanized mice. RESULTS AS3MT expression in mouse tissues closely modeled that of human and differed substantially from expression of As3mt. Detoxification of iAs was much less efficient in the humanized mice than in wild-type mice. Profiles for iAs and its methylated metabolites in tissues and excreta of the humanized mice were consistent with those reported in humans. Notably, the humanized mice expressed both the full-length AS3MT that catalyzes iAs methylation and the human-specific AS3MTd2d3 splicing variant that has been linked to schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that AS3MT is the primary genetic locus responsible for the unique pattern of iAs metabolism in humans. Thus, the humanized mouse strain can be used to study the role of iAs methylation in the pathogenesis of iAs-induced diseases, as well as to evaluate the role of AS3MTd2d3 in schizophrenia. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6943.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverly H. Koller
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - John N. Snouwaert
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christelle Douillet
- Department of Nutrition, UNC Gillings School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Leigh A. Jania
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hisham El-Masri
- Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - David J. Thomas
- Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Miroslav Stýblo
- Department of Nutrition, UNC Gillings School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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15
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Blom DE, Knudson KJ. Paleopathology and children in the Andes: Local/situated biologies and future directions. Int J Paleopathol 2020; 29:65-75. [PMID: 31585823 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.08.004] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the decades since Verano (1997) published his foundational piece on Andean paleopathology, scholars have recognized the importance of the bioarchaeology of childhood. Yet, scholarship on ancient childhood in the Andes deemphasizes paleopathology. Nonadult paleopathological data are often employed in large-scale, biocultural studies focused on environmental or political adaptations; however, they can also elucidate children's individual lived experiences and roles in society. To generate culturally-meaningful paleopathological data, we must take a contextualized approach to our analyses and interpretations. Disparate use of chronological age in published datasets makes synthesis across studies problematic, and ethnohistorical and ethnographic data on Andean children demonstrate that developmental age categories, rather than chronological age ranges, are most appropriate. Further, paleopathological data can best inform our investigations when they are combined with related datasets such as those on sex, diet, activity, and mobility. With that in mind, we use the theoretical framework of "local biologies" (and the related "situated biologies"), where biology is viewed as heavily contingent on culturally-specific beliefs and practices and local physical, sociocultural, and political environments (Lock, 1993, 2001; Niewöhner and Lock, 2018). Local biologies approaches can enrich social bioarchaeology and paleopathology to by specifically situating children and their experiences within the ancient Andean world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah E Blom
- University of Vermont, Department of Anthropology, United States.
| | - Kelly J Knudson
- Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, United States
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Khan KM, Chakraborty R, Bundschuh J, Bhattacharya P, Parvez F. Health effects of arsenic exposure in Latin America: An overview of the past eight years of research. Sci Total Environ 2020; 710:136071. [PMID: 31918184 PMCID: PMC7063974 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Studies conducted over the past eight years in Latin America (LA) have continued to produce new knowledge regarding health impacts of arsenic (As) in drinking water. We conducted a systematic review of 92 peer-reviewed English articles published between 2011 and 2018 to expand our understanding on these health effects. Majority of the LA studies on As have been conducted in Chile and Mexico. Additional data have emerged from As-exposed populations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. The present review has documented recent data on the biomarkers of As exposure, genetic susceptibility and genotoxicity, and risk assessment to further characterize the health effects and exposed populations. Some recent findings on the associations of As with bladder and lung cancers, reproductive outcomes, and declined cognitive performance have been consistent with what we reported in our previous systematic review article. We have found highly convincing evidence of in utero As exposure as a significant risk factor for several health outcomes, particularly for bladder cancer, even at moderate level. New data have emerged regarding the associations of As with breast and laryngeal cancers as well as type 2 diabetes. We observed early life As exposure to be associated with kidney injury, carotid intima-media thickness, and various pulmonary outcomes in children. Other childhood effects such as low birth weight, low gestational age, anemia, increased apoptosis, and decreased cognitive functions were also reported. Studies identified genetic variants of As methyltransferase that could determine susceptibility to As related health outcomes. Arsenic-induced DNA damage and alteration of gene and protein expression have also been reported. While the scope of research is still vast, the substantial work done on As exposure and its health effects in LA will help direct further large-scale studies for more comprehensive knowledge and plan appropriate mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid M Khan
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
| | - Rishika Chakraborty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, 4350, Queensland, Australia; UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, 4350, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Prosun Bhattacharya
- KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 10B, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Faruque Parvez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA.
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17
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Vicuña L, Fernandez MI, Vial C, Valdebenito P, Chaparro E, Espinoza K, Ziegler A, Bustamante A, Eyheramendy S. Adaptation to Extreme Environments in an Admixed Human Population from the Atacama Desert. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 11:2468-2479. [PMID: 31384924 PMCID: PMC6733355 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic (As) is a toxic xenobiotic and carcinogen associated with severe health conditions. The urban population from the Atacama Desert in northern Chile was exposed to extremely high As levels (up to 600 µg/l) in drinking water between 1958 and 1971, leading to increased incidence of urinary bladder cancer (BC), skin cancer, kidney cancer, and coronary thrombosis decades later. Besides, the Andean Native-American ancestors of the Atacama population were previously exposed for millennia to elevated As levels in water (∼120 µg/l) for at least 5,000 years, suggesting adaptation to this selective pressure. Here, we performed two genome-wide selection tests—PBSn1 and an ancestry-enrichment test—in an admixed population from Atacama, to identify adaptation signatures to As exposure acquired before and after admixture with Europeans, respectively. The top second variant selected by PBSn1 was associated with LCE4A-C1orf68, a gene that may be involved in the immune barrier of the epithelium during BC. We performed association tests between the top PBSn1 hits and BC occurrence in our population. The strongest association (P = 0.012) was achieved by the LCE4A-C1orf68 variant. The ancestry-enrichment test detected highly significant signals (P = 1.3 × 10−9) mapping MAK16, a gene with important roles in ribosome biogenesis during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the genetic factors involved in adaptation to the pathophysiological consequences of As exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vicuña
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario I Fernandez
- Department of Urology, Clínica Alemana, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cecilia Vial
- Center for Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | | | - Annemarie Ziegler
- Center for Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Susana Eyheramendy
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile
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18
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Muñoz MP, Rubilar P, Valdés M, Muñoz-Quezada MT, Gómez A, Saavedra M, Iglesias V. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and its association with heavy metals in children from northern Chile. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 226:113483. [PMID: 32106053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exposure to lead and arsenic has been associated with child behavior problems. In Arica, a northern city of Chile, the natural presence of arsenic in water has been registered. Also, the city has a history of heavy metals contamination of anthropogenic origin. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between the concentration of blood lead and urinary inorganic arsenic with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as reported by parents. METHODS Cross-sectional design with data analysis of 2656 children between the ages of 3 and 17 enrolled at the Environmental Health Center of Arica between 2009 and 2015. The diagnosis of ADHD was made based on the parents' response to questions about health history. Multiple logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables. RESULTS The prevalence of ADHD was 6.4%. The means urinary inorganic arsenic and blood lead were 21 μg/L and 1.5 μg/dl, respectively. In the lead model adjusted for sex, age, housing material quality and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke report; children with blood lead concentrations ≥5 μg/dl were more likely to develop ADHD [Odds Ratio (OR): 2.33 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.32-4.12)]. Regarding arsenic, the adjusted model revealed a higher chance of developing ADHD in the fifth quintile of exposure (OR = 2.02 IC 95% 1.12-3.61). CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggest that exposure of children to lead and inorganic arsenic was associated with ADHD. This study provides additional evidence to existing literature regarding the potential role of toxic metals such as lead and arsenic in children's behavior. However, our findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limitations of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pía Muñoz
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paola Rubilar
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.; Centro de Epidemiología y Políticas de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Macarena Valdés
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Andrea Gómez
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marta Saavedra
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Secretaria Regional Ministerial de Salud Arica y Parinacota, Arica, Chile
| | - Verónica Iglesias
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile..
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Apata M, Pfeifer SP. Recent population genomic insights into the genetic basis of arsenic tolerance in humans: the difficulties of identifying positively selected loci in strongly bottlenecked populations. Heredity (Edinb) 2020; 124:253-262. [PMID: 31776483 PMCID: PMC6972707 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-019-0285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in genomics have enabled researchers to shed light on the evolutionary processes driving human adaptation, by revealing the genetic architectures underlying traits ranging from lactase persistence, to skin pigmentation, to hypoxic response, to arsenic tolerance. Complicating the identification of targets of positive selection in modern human populations is their complex demographic history, characterized by population bottlenecks and expansions, population structure, migration, and admixture. In particular, founder effects and recent strong population size reductions, such as those experienced by the indigenous peoples of the Americas, have severe impacts on genetic variation that can lead to the accumulation of large allele frequency differences between populations due to genetic drift rather than natural selection. While distinguishing the effects of demographic history from selection remains challenging, neglecting neutral processes can lead to the incorrect identification of candidate loci. We here review the recent population genomic insights into the genetic basis of arsenic tolerance in Andean populations, and utilize this example to highlight both the difficulties pertaining to the identification of local adaptations in strongly bottlenecked populations, as well as the importance of controlling for demographic history in selection scans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Apata
- Center for Evolution & Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85821, USA
| | - Susanne P Pfeifer
- Center for Evolution & Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85821, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Arsenic exposure is a public health concern of global proportions with a high degree of interindividual variability in pathologic outcomes. Arsenic metabolism is a key factor underlying toxicity, and the primary purpose of this review is to summarize recent discoveries concerning the influence of the human gut microbiome on the metabolism, bioavailability, and toxicity of ingested arsenic. We review and discuss the current state of knowledge along with relevant methodologies for studying these phenomena. RECENT FINDINGS Bacteria in the human gut can biochemically transform arsenic-containing compounds (arsenicals). Recent publications utilizing culture-based approaches combined with analytical biochemistry and molecular genetics have helped identify several arsenical transformations by bacteria that are at least possible in the human gut and are likely to mediate arsenic toxicity to the host. Other studies that directly incubate stool samples in vitro also demonstrate the gut microbiome's potential to alter arsenic speciation and bioavailability. In vivo disruption or elimination of the microbiome has been shown to influence toxicity and body burden of arsenic through altered excretion and biotransformation of arsenicals. Currently, few clinical or epidemiological studies have investigated relationships between the gut microbiome and arsenic-related health outcomes in humans, although current evidence provides strong rationale for this research in the future. SUMMARY The human gut microbiome can metabolize arsenic and influence arsenical oxidation state, methylation status, thiolation status, bioavailability, and excretion. We discuss the strength of current evidence and propose that the microbiome be considered in future epidemiologic and toxicologic studies of human arsenic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Coryell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, 109 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Barbara A. Roggenbeck
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, 109 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Seth T. Walk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, 109 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
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Abstract
In recent years, methylated thioarsenicals have been widely detected in various biological and environmental matrices, suggesting their broad involvement and biological importance in arsenic metabolism. However, very little is known about the formation mechanism of methylated thioarsenicals and the relation between arsenic methylation and thiolation processes. It is timely and necessary to summarize and synthesize the reported information on thiolated arsenicals for an improved understanding of arsenic thiolation. To this end, we examined the proposed formation pathways of methylated oxoarsenicals and thioarsenicals from a chemical perspective and proposed a novel arsenic metabolic scheme, in which arsenic thiolation is integrated with methylation (instead of being separated from methylation as currently reported). We suggest in the new scheme that protein-bound pentavalent arsenicals are critical intermediates that connect methylation and thiolation, with protein binding of pentavalent methylated thioarsenical being a key step for arsenic thiolation. This informative review on arsenic thiolation from the chemical perspective will be helpful to better understand the arsenic metabolism at the molecular level and the toxicological effects of arsenic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjun Fan
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
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Prohaska A, Racimo F, Schork AJ, Sikora M, Stern AJ, Ilardo M, Allentoft ME, Folkersen L, Buil A, Moreno-Mayar JV, Korneliussen T, Geschwind D, Ingason A, Werge T, Nielsen R, Willerslev E. Human Disease Variation in the Light of Population Genomics. Cell 2019; 177:115-131. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Stajnko A, Šlejkovec Z, Mazej D, France-Štiglic A, Briški AS, Prpić I, Špirić Z, Horvat M, Falnoga I. Arsenic metabolites; selenium; and AS3MT, MTHFR, AQP4, AQP9, SELENOP, INMT, and MT2A polymorphisms in Croatian-Slovenian population from PHIME-CROME study. Environ Res 2019; 170:301-319. [PMID: 30612060 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [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: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The relationships between inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolism, selenium (Se) status, and genetic polymorphisms of various genes, commonly studied in populations exposed to high levels of iAs from drinking water, were studied in a Croatian-Slovenian population from the wider PHIME-CROME project. Population consisted of 136 pregnant women in the 3rd trimester and 176 non-pregnant women with their children (n = 176, 8-9 years old). Their exposure to iAs, defined by As (speciation) analyses of biological samples, was low. The sums of biologically active metabolites (arsenite + arsenate + methylated As forms) for pregnant women, non-pregnant women, and children, respectively were: 3.23 (2.84-3.68), 1.83 (1.54-2.16) and 2.18 (1.86-2.54) ng/mLSG; GM (95 CI). Corresponding plasma Se levels were: 54.8 (52.8-56.9), 82.3 (80.4-84.0) and 65.8 (64.3-67.3) ng/mL; GM (95 CI). As methylation efficiency indexes confirmed the relationship between pregnancy/childhood and better methylation efficiency. Archived blood and/or saliva samples were used for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of arsenic(3+) methyltransferase - AS3MT (rs7085104, rs3740400, rs3740393, rs3740390, rs11191439, rs10748835, rs1046778 and the corresponding AS3MT haplotype); methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase - MTHFR (rs1801131, rs1801133); aquaporin - AQP 4 and 9 (rs9951307 and rs2414539); selenoprotein P1 - SELENOP (rs7579, rs3877899); indolethylamine N-methyltransferase - INMT (rs6970396); and metallothionein 2A - MT2A (rs28366003). Associations of SNPs with As parameters and urine Se were determined through multiple regression analyses adjusted using appropriate confounders (blood As, plasma Se, ever smoking, etc.). SNPs' influence on As methylation, defined particularly by the secondary methylation index (SMI), confirmed the 'protective' role of minor alleles of six AS3MT SNPs and their haplotype only among non-pregnant women. Among the other investigated genes, the carriers of AQP9 (rs2414539) were associated with more efficient As methylation and higher urine concentration of As and Se among non-pregnant women; poorer methylation was observed for carriers of AQP4 (rs9951307) among pregnant women and SELENOP (rs7579) among non-pregnant women; MT2A (rs28366003) was associated with higher urine concentration of AsIII regardless of the pregnancy status; and INMT (rs6970396) was associated with higher As and Se concentration in non-pregnant women. Among confounders, the strongest influence was observed for plasma Se; it reduced urine AsIII concentration during pregnancy and increased secondary methylation index among non-pregnant women. In the present study of populations with low As exposure, we observed a few new As-gene associations (particularly with AQPs). More reliable interpretations will be possible after their confirmation in larger populations with higher As exposure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Stajnko
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Zdenka Šlejkovec
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka France-Štiglic
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Njegoševa 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Sešek Briški
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Njegoševa 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Igor Prpić
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Ul. Braće Branchetta 20/1, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Zdravko Špirić
- Green infrastructure ltd., Fallerovo šetalište 22, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ingrid Falnoga
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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24
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Hoal EG, Dippenaar A, Kinnear C, van Helden PD, Möller M. The arms race between man and Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Time to regroup. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 2018; 66:361-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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25
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Arriaza B, Amarasiriwardena D, Standen V, Yáñez J, Van Hoesen J, Figueroa L. Living in poisoning environments: Invisible risks and human adaptation. Evol Anthropol 2018; 27:188-196. [PMID: 30369007 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
This article describes the hidden natural chemical contaminants present in a unique desert environment and their health consequences on ancient populations. Currently, millions of people are affected worldwide by toxic elements such as arsenic. Using data gathered from Atacama Desert mummies, we discuss long-term exposure and biocultural adaptation to toxic elements. The rivers that bring life to the Atacama Desert are paradoxically laden with arsenic and other minerals that are invisible and tasteless. High intake of these toxic elements results in severe health and behavioral problems, and even death. We demonstrate that Inca colonies, from Camarones 9 site, were significantly affected by chemical contaminants in their food and water. It appears however, some modern-day Andean populations resist the elevated levels of arsenic exposure as a result of positive selection mediated via the arsenic methyltransferase enzyme and display more tolerance to high chemical doses. This article further debate the effects of natural pollution and biocultural adaptation of past populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Arriaza
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | | | - Vivien Standen
- Departamento de Antropología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | - Jorge Yáñez
- Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Laboratorio de Trazas Elementales & Especiación (LABTRES), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Huang CY, Lin YC, Shiue HS, Chen WJ, Su CT, Pu YS, Ao PL, Hsueh YM. Comparison of arsenic methylation capacity and polymorphisms of arsenic methylation genes between bladder cancer and upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Toxicol Lett 2018; 295:64-73. [PMID: 29859237 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2018.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic exposure is an environmental risk factor for urothelial carcinoma (UC). The natural history of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) differs from that of bladder cancer (BC). However, the risk factors of BC and UTUC are not exactly the same and should be discussed separately. The aims of this study were to evaluate 1) the association between arsenic methylation capacity and UTUC and/or BC, separately, and 2) the association between polymorphisms of the arsenic metabolism-related genes AS3MT, GSTOs, and PNP against BC and/or UTUC, separately. We conducted a hospital-based study and collected 216 BC and 212 UTUC cases, and 813 healthy controls, from September 2007 to October 2011. Urinary arsenic profiles were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generator-atomic absorption spectrometry. The polymorphisms of AS3MT, GSTO, and PNP were identified using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform with iPLEX Gold chemistry. We found that inefficient arsenic methylation capacity was associated with BC in a significant dose-response relationship, but only found that high urinary total arsenic concentration was related to the risk of UTUC, also in a significant dose-response manner. Those with a total urinary arsenic level of > 30.28 μg/L compared to ≤ 9.78 μg/L, had a odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) of UTUC, of 4.80 (2.22-10.39). The polymorphisms of AS3MT rs11191438, AS3MT rs10748835, and AS3MT rs1046778 were related to the risk of BC and UTUC, while the polymorphisms of AS3MT rs3740393, AS3MT rs11191453, and AS3MT rs11191454 were associated with arsenic methylation capacity. The AS3MT gene polymorphisms and arsenic methylation capacity appear to independently affect the risk of BC and UTUC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yuan Huang
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yunlin Branch, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chin Lin
- Department of Family Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Health Examination, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Sheng Shiue
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jen Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Tien Su
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yeong-Shiau Pu
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pui-Lam Ao
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Mei Hsueh
- Department of Family Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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27
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Lin YC, Chen WJ, Huang CY, Shiue HS, Su CT, Ao PL, Pu YS, Hsueh YM. Polymorphisms of Arsenic (+3 Oxidation State) Methyltransferase and Arsenic Methylation Capacity Affect the Risk of Bladder Cancer. Toxicol Sci 2018; 164:328-338. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chin Lin
- Department of Family Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital
- Department of Health Examination, Wan Fang Hospital
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jen Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Yuan Huang
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin Chu Branch, Hsin Chu, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Sheng Shiue
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Tien Su
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pui-Lam Ao
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yeong-Shiau Pu
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Mei Hsueh
- Department of Family Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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28
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King CL, Halcrow SE, Millard AR, Gröcke DR, Standen VG, Portilla M, Arriaza BT. Let's talk about stress, baby! Infant-feeding practices and stress in the ancient Atacama desert, Northern Chile. Am J Phys Anthropol 2018; 166:139-155. [PMID: 29355900 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The transition to an agricultural economy is often presumed to involve an increase in female fertility related to changes in weaning practice. In particular, the availability of staple crops as complementary foods is hypothesized to allow earlier weaning in agricultural populations. In this study, our primary aim is to explore whether this model fits the agricultural transition in the Atacama Desert using incremental isotopic analysis. A secondary aim of this study is to identify isotopic patterns relating to weaning, and assess how these may be differentiated from those relating to early life stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS We use incremental isotopic analysis of dentine to examine changes in δ15 N and δ13 C values from infancy and childhood in sites of the Arica region (n = 30). We compare individuals from pre-agricultural and agricultural phases to establish isotopic patterns and relate these patterns to maternal diet, weaning trajectory and physiological stress. RESULTS We find that there is no evidence for systematic temporal or geographic variation in incremental isotopic results. Instead, results from all time periods are highly variable, with weaning completed between 1.5 and 3.5 years. Characteristics of the incremental profiles indicate that both in utero and postnatal stress were a common part of the infant experience in the Atacama. DISCUSSION In the Atacama Desert it appears that the arrival of agricultural crops did not result in uniform shifts in weaning behavior. Instead, infant and child diet seems to have been dictated by the broad-spectrum diets of the mothers, perhaps as a way of mitigating the stresses of the harsh desert environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte L King
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Siân E Halcrow
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Andrew R Millard
- Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Darren R Gröcke
- Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Vivien G Standen
- Departamento de Antropología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | - Marco Portilla
- Departamento de Antropología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | - Bernardo T Arriaza
- Departamento de Antropología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile.,Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
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Abstract
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Arsenic
methylation, the primary biotransformation in the human
body, is catalyzed by the enzyme As(III) S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)
methyltransferases (hAS3MT). This process is thought to be protective
from acute high-level arsenic exposure. However, with long-term low-level
exposure, hAS3MT produces intracellular methylarsenite (MAs(III))
and dimethylarsenite (DMAs(III)), which are considerably more toxic
than inorganic As(III) and may contribute to arsenic-related diseases.
Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in putative regulatory
elements of the hAS3MT gene have been shown to be protective. In contrast,
three previously identified exonic SNPs (R173W, M287T, and T306I)
may be deleterious. The goal of this study was to examine the effect
of single amino acid substitutions in hAS3MT on the activity of the
enzyme that might explain their contributions to adverse health effects
of environmental arsenic. We identified five additional intragenic
variants in hAS3MT (H51R, C61W, I136T, W203C, and R251H). We purified
the eight polymorphic hAS3MT proteins and characterized their enzymatic
properties. Each enzyme had low methylation activity through decreased
affinity for substrate, lower overall rates of catalysis, or lower
stability. We propose that amino acid substitutions in hAS3MT with
decreased catalytic activity lead to detrimental responses to environmental
arsenic and may increase the risk of arsenic-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Li
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University , Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Charles Packianathan
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University , Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Toby G Rossman
- The Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine , NYU-Langone School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987, United States
| | - Barry P Rosen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University , Miami, Florida 33199, United States
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