Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione (GSH-) related genes affect the plasmatic Hg/whole blood Hg partitioning and the distribution between inorganic and methylmercury levels in plasma collected from a fish-eating population.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of polymorphisms in glutathione (GSH-) related genes (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, GCLM, and GCLC) in the distribution of Hg in the blood compartments in humans exposed to methylmercury (MeHg). Subjects (n = 88), exposed to MeHg from fish consumption, were enrolled in the study. Hg species in the plasma compartment were determined by LC-ICP-MS, whereas genotyping was performed by PCR assays. Mean total Hg levels in plasma (THgP) and whole blood (THgB) were 10 ± 4.2 and 37 ± 21, whereas mean levels of plasmatic MeHg (MeHgP), inorganic Hg (IHgP), and HgP/HgB were 4.3 ± 2.9, 5.8 ± 2.3 µg/L, and 0.33 ± 0.15, respectively. GSTM1 and GCLC polymorphisms influence THgP and MeHgP (multivariate analyses, P < 0.050). Null homozygotes for GSTM1 showed higher THgP and MeHgP levels compared to subjects with GSTM1 (THgP β = 0.22, P = 0.035; MeHgP β = 0.30, P = 0.050) and persons carrying at least one T allele for GCLC had significant higher MeHgP (β = 0.59, P = 0.046). Also, polymorphic GCLM subjects had lower THgP/THgB than those with the nonvariant genotype. Taken together, data of this study suggest that GSH-related polymorphisms may change the metabolism of MeHg by modifying the distribution of mercury species iin plasma compartment and the HgP/HgB partitioning.
Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Andréia Ávila Soares
AÁ
de Oliveira
Department of General Biology, Center for Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid km 380, 86051-990 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Marilesia Ferreira
MF
de Souza
Department of General Biology, Center for Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid km 380, 86051-990 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
André van Helvoort
Av
Lengert
Department of General Biology, Center for Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid km 380, 86051-990 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Marcelo Tempesta
MT
de Oliveira
Department of General Biology, Center for Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid km 380, 86051-990 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Rossana Batista de Oliveira Godoy
RB
Camargo
Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Gilberto Úbida Leite
GÚ
Braga
Department of General Biology, Center for Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid km 380, 86051-990 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Ilce Mara de Syllos
IM
Cólus
Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Fernando
F
Barbosa
Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Gustavo Rafael Mazzaron
GR
Barcelos
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D005978:Glutathione / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008460:Meat; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D015415:Biomarkers; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury; D005978:Glutathione