title: Associations of total arsenic in drinking water, hair and nails with serum vascular endothelial growth factor in arsenic-endemic individuals in Bangladesh.
abstract: Arsenic exposure is associated with cancer and vascular diseases. Angiogenesis is an important step for the pathological development of cancer and vascular diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a specific marker for angiogenesis. However, human study showing the association between arsenic exposure and serum VEGF levels has not yet been documented. This study was aimed to investigate the association between arsenic exposure and serum VEGF levels in the arsenic-endemic individuals in Bangladesh. A total of 260 individuals were recruited for this study. Arsenic exposure levels were measured by ICP-MS and VEGF levels were quantified using VEGF immunoassay kit. The study subjects were stratified into tertile (low, medium and high) groups based on the arsenic in water, hair and nails. Serum VEGF levels were correlated with water (rs = 0.363, p < 0.001), hair (rs = 0.205, p < 0.01) and nail (rs = 0.190, p < 0.01) arsenic. Further, VEGF levels showed dose-response relationships with water, hair and nail arsenic. Mean VEGF levels in ⩽ 10 μg L(-1), 10.1-50 μg L(-1) and > 50 μg L(-1) groups were 91.84, 129.54, and 169.86 pg mL(-1), respectively, however, significant (p < 0.01) difference in VEGF levels was only found in > 50 μg L(-1) versus ⩽ 10 μg L(-1) groups. Significant associations of arsenic exposure with VEGF levels were found even after adjusting with relevant covariates. Therefore, these results provide evidence that arsenic exposure has a pro-angiogenic effect on humans, which may be implicated in arsenic-induced tumorigenesis and vascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mashiurru@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mashiur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: amamun42@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Mamun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan. Electronic address: mrkarimanft@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Md Rezaul
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: drkhairul16@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Khairul
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mhasan7988@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: saka3703@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shakhawoat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: imubcmb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Md Imam
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: zasaud@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zahangir Alam
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Saud
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh. Electronic address: asmnomancubd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abu Shadat Mohammod
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Noman
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan. Electronic address: hideki@ph.bunri-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyataka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan. Electronic address: himenos@ph.bunri-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Himeno
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: khossainbio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hossain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001459:Bangladesh; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Angiogenesis; Arsenic; Bangladesh; Cancer; Vascular endothelial growth factor