title: Proteomics reveals plasma profiles for monitoring the toxicity caused by chromium compounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today, various heavy metals are widespread in the ecosystem and have become important environmental contaminants. Exposure to these hazardous metals such as chromium usually results in cytotoxicity and large-scale protein changes which reflect pathologic states.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a comprehensive proteomic tool to survey changes in plasma proteins elicited by two chromium species (Cr(6+) and Cr(3+)). RT-PCR was applied to evaluate levels of cytokines associated with adverse responses. Lectin blotting was used to investigate the contents of fucosylated proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Protein profiles revealed statistically significant changes in the intensity of 12 proteins. The network analysis implied that Cr(6+) application strongly induced the IL-6-stimulated inflammatory pathway. mRNA levels of specific cytokines were also correlated with inflammatory events. Increased IL-6 modulation of the fucosylation of haptoglobin was also identified in Cr(6+)-treated samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that Cr(6+) may induce IL-6-mediated inflammatory responses which result in hepatic injury. This paper highlights the applications of functional proteomics of plasma profiles and fucosylated glycoproteins as a predictive tool to monitor human health in contact with chromium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmetic Science, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jia-You
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Tung-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chun-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pei-Wen
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yang-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tai-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D040901:Proteomics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006242:Haptoglobins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002857:Chromium