title: Effect of N-acetylcysteine administration on the expression and activities of antioxidant enzymes and the malondialdehyde level in the blood of lead-exposed workers.
abstract: We investigated whether treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces oxidative stress intensity and restores the expression and activities of superoxide dismutase (Sod1, SOD), catalase (Cat, CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx1, GPx) in lead-exposed workers. The exposed population was divided randomly into two groups. Workers in the first group (reference group, n=49) were not administered any drugs, while workers in the second group (n=122) were treated with NAC at three doses for 12 weeks (200 mg, 400 mg, 800 mg/day). NAC administered orally to lead-exposed workers normalized antioxidant enzyme activities in blood cells. Oxidative stress intensity measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum, leukocytes and erythrocytes significantly decreased after NAC administration. NAC may be an alternative therapy for chronic lead intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland. Electronic address: kaslav@mp.pl.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobrakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birkner
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000975:Antioxidants; D007854:Lead; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Catalase; Gene expression; Glutathione peroxidase; Lead poisoning; N-acetylcysteine; Superoxide dismutase