title: Increased lead biomarker levels are associated with changes in hormonal response to stress in occupationally exposed male participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lead (Pb) exposure has been associated with a host of pathological conditions in humans. In rodents Pb exposure has been shown to alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of lead on responses of the HPA axis to a psychosocial laboratory stressor administered to Pb-exposed workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy male participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Serum cortisol (CORT) and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were assessed in response to and during recovery from the stressor. We measured Pb in blood, a biomarker of recent exposure, and in tibia bone by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), a biomarker of chronic exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TSST induced statistically significant increases in ACTH and CORT in the participants. At baseline, ACTH was not significantly higher (p = 0.052) in participants with higher blood Pb concentration, but CORT was significantly lower in these participants (p = 0.016). Adjusted linear regression models indicated a positive association between blood and bone Pb and the increase in ACTH in response to stress. However, Pb was not strongly associated with changes in CORT in response to stress. Pb was also associated with the ACTH:CORT ratio at baseline and throughout the course of the protocol, suggesting an adrenal hyporesponsiveness in participants with higher Pb concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The altered HPA-axis stress response observed in participants exposed to higher levels of Pb further supports the idea that lead may contribute to a host of biological dysfunctions beyond the classical neurotoxic effects.
authors: Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.
authors: Marie C
authors: MC
authors: Fortin
authors: Deborah A
authors: DA
authors: Cory-Slechta
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Ohman-Strickland
authors: Chizoba
authors: C
authors: Nwankwo
authors: T Steven
authors: TS
authors: Yanger
authors: Andrew C
authors: AC
authors: Todd
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Moynihan
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Walton
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Brooks
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Fiedler
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D060389:Construction Industry; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D009518:New York; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013977:Tibia / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007854:Lead; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone