Assessing effects of neurotoxic pollutants by biochemical markers.
Neurotoxins cause biochemical and molecular events which indicate early stage effects in exposed persons well before or well below the induction of overt disease. Monitoring these early events may represent a valid approach to developing markers of neurotoxicity in individuals exposed to environmental chemicals. In neurotoxicology, the use of biochemical markers is more problematic compared to other fields due to the complexity of central nervous system function, the multistage nature of neurotoxic events, and the inaccessibility of target tissue. Nevertheless, new biochemical assays have been developed in recent years to assess exposure, subclinical effects, and susceptibility to neurotoxic disorders. This paper reviews novel biomarkers of neurotoxicity and discusses perspectives and limitations of their use in occupational and environmental medicine.
Manzo
L
L
Toxicology Division, Institute of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy.
Castoldi
A F
AF
Coccini
T
T
Prockop
L D
LD
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000652:urine; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011166:Porphyrins; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002802:Cholinesterases; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D002118:Calcium; D000111:Acetylcysteine