title: Is plasma beta-glucuronidase a novel human biomarker for monitoring anticholinesterase pesticides exposure? A Malaysian experience.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the effects of acute and chronic pesticide exposure on the plasma beta-glucuronidase enzyme activity among five patients of acute pesticide poisoning in Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang, 230 farmers in the MADA area, Kedah and 49 fishermen in Setiu, Terengganu. The duration of pesticide exposure among the patients was unknown, but the plasma samples from patients were collected on day one in the hospital. The duration of pesticide exposure among the farmers was between 1 and 45 years. The beta-glucuronidase activity was compared with plasma cholinesterase activity in the same individual. The plasma cholinesterase activity was measured using Cholinesterase (PTC) Reagent set kit (Teco Diagnostics, UK) based on colorimetric method, while the plasma beta-glucuronidase activity was measured fluorometrically based on beta-glucuronidase assay. The plasma cholinesterase activity was significantly reduced (p<0.05) among the patients (1386.786+/-791.291 U/L/min) but the inhibition in plasma cholinesterase activity among the farmers (7346.5+/-1860.786 U/L/min) was not significant (p>0.05). The plasma beta-glucuronidase activity among the farmers was significantly elevated (p<0.05) (0.737+/-0.425 microM/h) but not significant among the patients (p>0.05). The plasma cholinesterase activity was positively correlated with the plasma beta-glucuronidase activity among the farmers (r=0.205, p<0.01) but not among the patients (r=0.79, p>0.05). Thus, plasma beta-glucuronidase enzyme activity can be measured as a biomarker for the chronic exposure of pesticide. However, further studies need to be performed to confirm whether plasma beta-glucuronidase can be a sensitive biomarker for anticholinesterase pesticide poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Melaka Institute of Biotechnology, Lot 7, MITC City, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka, Malaysia. salmaan@mib.gov.my <salmaan@mib.gov.my>
authors.forename: Salmaan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Inayat-Hussain
authors.forename: Syarif Husin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lubis
authors.forename: Noor Ibrahim Mohamed
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Sakian
authors.forename: Ahmad Rohi
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.forename: Noor Suhailah
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Magdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Sersi
authors.forename: Lee Mun
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Toong
authors.forename: Awang Mat
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zainal
authors.forename: Suhaimi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: Mohd Shariman
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.forename: Mohd Nazri
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Saidin
authors.forename: Ab Razak Ab
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Mohd Jamil Mohd
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rafaai
authors.forename: Sollahudin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Rafiah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rapiai
authors.forename: Radziah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.forename: Lee Tiong
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Amran
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johari
authors.forename: Wong Hing
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Soon
authors.forename: Abdul Rahim
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Salleh
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satoh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides; D005966:Glucuronidase