Evaluation of activity of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) in lead exposed workers: with focus on the effect on hemoglobin.
Anemia that accompanies lead poisoning is in part the result of various inhibitory effects of lead on heme biosynthesis. Lead also increases the rate of red blood cell destruction due to the profoundly depressed activities of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) activities. We studied parameters of the two metabolic pathways in the workers exposed to lead to evaluate P5N in the lead exposed workers and which pathway has an effect on hemoglobin (Hb) level. 29 male workers in the secondary lead smelting as high exposure group, 46 male workers in the manufacturer of inorganic pigment as low exposure group and 56 clerical male workers from another plant as non-exposed group were studied. Activity of P5N, lead concentration in whole blood (PbB), zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), Hb, and ferritin were determined. In the present study, P5N activity of nucleotide metabolic pathway correlated with Hb after controlling indices of iron deficiency anemia (ferritin) occurring concurrently and heme biosynthetic pathway (ZPP) in the high exposure group while heme biosynthetic pathway did not correlate with Hb after controlling other two variables in exposure groups. These findings suggest that P5N rather than heme biosynthetic pathway has a major effect on Hb level even in workers without manifest hemolytic anemia.
Kim
Yangho
Y
Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, South Korea.
Yoo
Cheol-In
CI
Lee
Choong Ryeol
CR
Lee
Ji Ho
JH
Lee
Hun
H
Kim
Sung-Ryul
SR
Chang
Seoung-Hoon
SH
Lee
Won-Jin
WJ
Hwang
Cheon-Hyun
CH
Lee
Young Hwan
YH
D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007854:Lead; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase