title: Lymphocyte replicating ability in individuals exposed to arsenic via drinking water.
abstract: A human monitoring study was carried out to explore the effect on lymphocyte proliferation of chronic exposure to arsenic (As) via drinking water. Blood and urine samples were taken from volunteers from a town where levels of As in the drinking water averaged 412 micrograms/l, and from a matched group of individuals, with similar socioeconomic status, that drank water with As average levels of 37.2 micrograms/l. Exposure was assessed by questionnaires and by determining the levels of As in urine and water samples. The evaluation of the peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation was done at different culture times using labelling (LI), mitotic (MI) and replication indexes (RI) as endpoints. No significant differences were seen for either LI or MI, except for MI in 72 h cultures and in LI in males and females with skin lesions vs. those without lesions. Significant differences in RI were seen for exposed females but not for males. Correlations between LI and MI showed that progression from the initial S-to M-phase is altered in exposed individuals. Arsenic exposure as well as lead and mercury affect cellular immune response, making the endpoints of cell proliferation variables of interest in population monitoring study design, since they might provide information in health impairment due to exposure, which is important in risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gonsebatt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garcia-Vargas
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Del Razo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albores
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cebrian
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ostrosky-Wegman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic