title: Metallothionein gene expression in peripheral lymphocytes and renal dysfunction in a population environmentally exposed to cadmium.
abstract: In order to study the validity of metallothionein (MT) gene expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) as a biomarker of cadmium exposure and susceptibility to renal dysfunction, MT mRNA levels were measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in PBLs from residents living in a cadmium-contaminated area. MT mRNA levels were found to increase with the increase of blood cadmium (BCd) and urinary cadmium (UCd) levels. Basal MT mRNA levels were significantly correlated with the logarithm of BCd levels and the logarithm of UCd levels confirming that MT expression in PBLs is a biomarker of cadmium exposure and internal dose. An inverse relationship was observed between in vitro induced MT-mRNA level in PBLs and urinary N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (UNAG) suggesting that MT gene expression in PBLs may be used as a biomarker of susceptibility to renal toxicity of cadmium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Taiyi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nordberg
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein