title: Modulation of lysozyme activity by lead administered by different routes. In vitro study and analysis in blood, kidney, and lung.
abstract: Modifications in the enzyme activity of lysozyme, a protein implied in the defence barrier of the organism, can be a good biomarker of alterations in the immune system as a result of exposure to toxic metal, such as lead. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a 200 ppm dose of lead on lysozyme activity in blood, kidney, and lung, and also on tissue structure. Previously, the effect of lead acetate on lysozyme activity in vitro was determined; the in vitro results indicated that lead produced a decrease in enzyme activity. The activity loss was 16 % at 200 ppm of lead. Lead acetate was administered to Wistar rats by oral and intraperitoneal injections. An increase in lysozyme activity was observed in blood when lead was administered by introperitoneal route and in kidney by the oral route. The possible immunostimulation in kidney was discarded because of the structural alterations observed in the tissue. In lung, the decrease in specific lysozyme activity, for both routes of lead exposure, seems to indicate immunosupression, which was in accordance with the structural alterations observed in this tissue.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid 28040, Spain. rolmo@terra.es
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olmo
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teijón
authors.forename: Enriqueta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muñiz
authors.forename: Juan V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Beneit
authors.forename: Antonio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Villarino
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology*; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009113:Muramidase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D009113:Muramidase