Association of renal function and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase polymorphism among Vietnamese and Singapore workers exposed to inorganic lead.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) polymorphisms on the association between blood lead and renal function among Vietnamese and Singaporean workers who were exposed to low to medium levels of inorganic lead, and to study the distribution of ALAD polymorphism among Vietnamese, Chinese, Malays and Indians.


METHODS
A total of 459 male and female workers were studied. Blood and urine were collected for each worker in order to determine ALAD genotype, blood lead, and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALAU). Renal function tests included urine albumin (Ualb), urine beta2 microglobulin (Ubeta2m), urinary alpha1 microglobulin (Ualpha1m), N-acetyl-glucosaminidas (NAG), and urine retinol blinding protein (RBP). A multiple regression model with interaction term was applied to fit the entire data and to explore the modifying effect of ALAD polymorphism on the relation of blood lead to each renal function parameter.


RESULTS
ALAD1-1 was the predominant genotype for all the ethnic groups while ALAD2-2 was the rarest. The frequency of ALAD2 allele was higher among Malays (8.8%) and Indians (10.6%) compared to the Chinese (5.0%) and Vietnamese (4.3%). The geometric mean of blood lead for all workers was 19.0 microg/dl. The models for Ubeta2m, Ualpha1m, and NAG showed that the ALAD1-2/2-2 group had higher beta coefficients than the ALAD1-1 group. Corresponding to 10 microg/dl blood lead, ALAD1-1 homozygotes had an increment of 1.288 microg/g Cr, 1.175 mg/g Cr, and 1.995 U/g Cr for Ubeta2m, Ualpha1m, and NAG, respectively. ALAD1-2/2-2 subjects had higher increments of 3.802 microg/g Cr, 2.138 mg/g Cr, and 3.89 U/g Cr for Ubeta2m, Ualpha1m, and NAG, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of the ALAD2 allele is as low in Vietnamese workers as in Chinese. Workers with the ALAD2 allele appeared more susceptible to the effects of lead (especially at higher levels) on renal function.
Department of Community, Occupational & Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. cofcse@nus.edu.sg
S-E
SE
Chia
H J
HJ
Zhou
E
E
Yap
M T
MT
Tham
N-V
NV
Dong
N T
NT
Hong Tu
K-S
KS
Chia
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012846:Singapore; D014744:Vietnam
D007854:Lead; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase