title: Biological monitoring of hexavalent chromium and serum levels of the senescence biomarker apolipoprotein J/Clusterin in welders.
abstract: Welding fumes contain metals and other toxic substances known or strongly suspected to be related with oxidative stress and premature cellular senescence. Apolipoprotein J/Clusterin (ApoJ/CLU) is a glycoprotein that is differentially regulated in various physiological and disease states including ageing and age-related diseases. In vitro data showed that exposure of human diploid fibroblasts to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) resulted in premature senescence and significant upregulation of the ApoJ/CLU protein. In this study we analyzed blood and urine samples from shipyard industry welders being exposed to different levels of Cr(VI) over a period of five months in order to assay in vivo the relation of ApoJ/CLU serum levels with Cr(VI). Our findings confirmed the previously reported in vitro data since reduction of Cr levels, after a worksite intervention, associated with lower levels of ApoJ/CLU serum levels. We concluded that the human ApoJ/CLU gene is responsive to the acute in vivo oxidative stress induced by heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, 26500 Rio Patras, Greece. ecalexop@upatras.gr
authors.forename: Evangelos C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
authors.forename: Xenophon
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cominos
authors.forename: Ioannis P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Trougakos
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lourda
authors.forename: Efstathios S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Gonos
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Makropoulos