Is plasma beta-glucuronidase a novel human biomarker for monitoring anticholinesterase pesticides exposure? A Malaysian experience.
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.
Inayat-Hussain
Salmaan H
SH
Melaka Institute of Biotechnology, Lot 7, MITC City, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka, Malaysia. salmaan@mib.gov.my <salmaan@mib.gov.my>
Lubis
Syarif Husin
SH
Sakian
Noor Ibrahim Mohamed
NI
Ghazali
Ahmad Rohi
AR
Ali
Noor Suhailah
NS
El Sersi
Magdi
M
Toong
Lee Mun
LM
Zainal
Awang Mat
AM
Hashim
Suhaimi
S
Ghazali
Mohd Shariman
MS
Saidin
Mohd Nazri
MN
Rahman
Ab Razak Ab
AR
Rafaai
Mohd Jamil Mohd
MJ
Omar
Sollahudin
S
Rapiai
Rafiah
R
Othman
Radziah
R
Chan
Lee Tiong
LT
Johari
Amran
A
Soon
Wong Hing
WH
Salleh
Abdul Rahim
AR
Satoh
Tetsuo
T
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*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides; D005966:Glucuronidase