Environmental arsenic exposure and sputum metalloproteinase concentrations.
Exposure to arsenic in drinking water is associated with an increased rate of lung cancer. The objective of this study was to determine whether arsenic exposure at relatively low concentrations (approximately 20 microg/L) is associated with changes in biomarkers of lung inflammation, as measured by the ratio of sputum metalloproteinase and antiproteinase activity. A total of 73 subjects residing in Ajo and Tucson, Arizona were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Tap water and first morning void urine were analyzed for arsenic. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) were measured in induced sputum. Household tap water arsenic levels in Ajo (20.3+/-3.7 microg/L) were higher than in those Tucson (4.0+/-2.3 microg/L), as were mean urinary total inorganic arsenic levels (29.1+/-20.4 and 11.0+/-12.0 microg/L, respectively). Log-normalized MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 concentrations in sputum were not significantly different between towns. However, after adjusting for town, asthma, diabetes, urinary monomethylarsonic acid/inorganic arsenic, and smoking history, total urinary arsenic was negatively associated with MMP-2 and TIMP-1 levels in sputum and positively associated with the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 in sputum. Increased sputum proteinase/antiproteinase activity suggests a potential toxic mechanism for low-level arsenic exposure.
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Arun B
AB
Josyula
Gerald S
GS
Poplin
Margaret
M
Kurzius-Spencer
Hannah E
HE
McClellen
Michael J
MJ
Kopplin
Stefan
S
Stürup
R
R
Clark Lantz
Jefferey L
JL
Burgess
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001130:Arizona; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis*; D008745:Methylation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D001151:Arsenic