title: The association of the blood lead level and serum lipid concentrations may be modified by the genetic combination of the metallothionein 2A polymorphisms rs10636 GC and rs28366003 AA.
abstract: Lead in blood can stimulate lipid oxidation in phosphatidylcholine and increase peroxidation in lipids. Metallothionein (MT) is a cysteine-rich protein that can influence the detoxification of heavy metals and scavenge oxidative stress for free radicals. One of the most expressive functional genes in humans is the MT2A gene.
  
  
  
  This study aims to determine if the association of the blood lead level and lipid biomarkers was influenced by MT2A polymorphisms.
  
  
  
  We recruited 677 participants after informed consent was obtained. All the samples collected were analyzed for lipid biomarkers and blood lead levels and were genotyped for MT2A polymorphisms by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A short questionnaire collected the medical history and alcohol and cigarette consumption information. The data were used for descriptive analyses and linear regression models.
  
  
  
  The investigation revealed that lead elevated concentration increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by multiple linear models. The carriers of the rs10636 GC-rs28366003 AA genetic combination may be less susceptive to lead elevated concentration on HDL-C than other types.
  
  
  
  In conclusion, the association of the blood lead level and HDL-C may be modified by the MT2A genetic combination: the rs10636 GC-rs28366003 AA genotype could play a protective role in lead elevated concentration on HDL-C in humans.
authors.affiliation: Health Management Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Health Management Center, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Shien
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Health Management Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Health Management Center, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: ericch@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C491053:MT2A protein, human; D007854:Lead; D008668:Metallothionein
keywords: Cholesterol; High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Lead; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Metallothionein; Single nucleotide polymorphism; Triglycerides