TY - JOUR
T1 - Polymorphism of Metallothionein 2A Modifies Lead Body Burden in Workers Chronically Exposed to the Metal
AU - Fernandes, Kelly Christine Marques
AU - Martins, Airton Cunha
AU - De Oliveira, Andréia Ávila Soares
AU - Antunes, Lusânia Maria Greggi
AU - Cólus, Ilce Mara De Syllos
AU - Barbosa, Fernando
AU - Barcelos, Gustavo Rafael Mazzaron
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 S. Karger AG.
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Lead (Pb) is a metal that accumulates in the human body, inducing several adverse health effects. One of the proteins responsible for the distribution of metal in the body is metallothionein (MT), which is expressed by different genes, and it is supposed that genetic variation in the genes that encode MTs may affect the Pb body burden. The present study aimed to evaluate the genetic effects of the polymorphism of MT2A (single nucleotide polymorphism rs10636; C→G) on blood Pb levels (BLL) of workers from car battery factories who are chronically exposed to the metal. In total, 221 men participated in the study; genomic DNA from whole blood was extracted, and genotyping of MT2A was performed by TaqMan assays; BLL were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). BLL were 25 ± 14 μg/dl (range 1.9-68); BLL were positively correlated with duration of work and smoking status. Individuals who carried at least one C allele had higher BLL than those with the GG genotype (β = -0.45; p = 0.025, multivariable linear regression analyses). Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that polymorphisms in genes related to the transport of Pb, such as MTs, may modulate the concentrations of the metal in the body and, consequently, adverse health effects induced by Pb exposure.
AB - Lead (Pb) is a metal that accumulates in the human body, inducing several adverse health effects. One of the proteins responsible for the distribution of metal in the body is metallothionein (MT), which is expressed by different genes, and it is supposed that genetic variation in the genes that encode MTs may affect the Pb body burden. The present study aimed to evaluate the genetic effects of the polymorphism of MT2A (single nucleotide polymorphism rs10636; C→G) on blood Pb levels (BLL) of workers from car battery factories who are chronically exposed to the metal. In total, 221 men participated in the study; genomic DNA from whole blood was extracted, and genotyping of MT2A was performed by TaqMan assays; BLL were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). BLL were 25 ± 14 μg/dl (range 1.9-68); BLL were positively correlated with duration of work and smoking status. Individuals who carried at least one C allele had higher BLL than those with the GG genotype (β = -0.45; p = 0.025, multivariable linear regression analyses). Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that polymorphisms in genes related to the transport of Pb, such as MTs, may modulate the concentrations of the metal in the body and, consequently, adverse health effects induced by Pb exposure.
KW - Genetic effects
KW - Lead
KW - Metallothioneins
KW - Occupational exposure
KW - Polymorphisms
KW - Toxicity
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U2 - 10.1159/000441713
DO - 10.1159/000441713
M3 - Article
C2 - 26594907
AN - SCOPUS:84955174225
SN - 1662-4246
VL - 19
SP - 47
EP - 52
JO - Public Health Genomics
JF - Public Health Genomics
IS - 1
ER -
