title: Exposure to lead affects male biothiols metabolism.
abstract: The most important biothiols include glutathione, homocysteine (HCY), cysteine and proteins. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the influence of lead on the biothiol turnover--the concentration of HCY and protein sulfhydryl groups (P-SH) in the serum and reduced glutathione (G-SH) in erythrocytes--in individuals (employees of metal works) exposed to lead and to evaluate its probable oxidative disorders, measured as the carbonyl protein (CP) concentration in serum. The exposed workers were divided into 2 subgroups: 1) low lead exposure (LPb), with a lead concentration in the blood (PbB) of 20-45 µg dl(-1) (n= 102), and 2) high lead exposure (HPb), with PbB = 45-60 µg dl(-1) (n= 81). The control group consisted of 72 office workers or other healthy subjects with no history of occupational exposure to lead. All the controls had normal PbB (<10 μg dl(-1)) and ZPP (<2.5 μg dl(-1)) levels. The concentration of HCY was higher in the LPb group by 11% and in the HPb group by 26%, compared with the control group (n=72). The CP concentration in these 2 groups was more than twice as high as that of the control group, with 108% and 125% increases for the LPb and HPb groups, respectively; G-SH was lower by 6.6% and 7.4% for the LPb and HPb groups, respectively; P-SH was lower by 8.2% and 13% for the LPb and HPb groups, respectively. Lead decreases levels of glutathione and protein thiol groups. Lead-induced oxidative stress contributes to the observed elevation of protein carbonyl groups. Besides, lead poisoning seems to be associated with hyperhomocysteinaemia, which may promote the development of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Błaszczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobrakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romuk
authors.affiliation: Independent Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland; Department of Public Health, University of Information Technology and Management, Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kapka-Skrzypczak
authors.affiliation: Chair of Physiotherapy, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birkner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011044:Poland; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006710:Homocysteine; D007854:Lead