Increased Oxidative DNA Damage, as Assessed by Urinary 8-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxyguanosine Concentrations, and Serum Redox Status in Persons Exposed to Mercury

Abstract

Background: Mercury is a ubiquitous and highly toxic environmental pollutant. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between mercury exposure and oxidative stress, serum and urinary mercury concentrations, oxidative DNA damage, and serum redox status in chronically mercury-exposed persons compared with healthy controls. Methods: We measured urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which we used as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage in the mercury-exposed persons, by HPLC with electrochemical detection (ECD). We evaluated antioxidant status by measuring the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and the concentrations of total reduced glutathione and protein-bound thiols in serum. Results: The significant increase in 8-OHdG concentrations in urine indicated that mercury-induced oxidative damage to DNA occurred in vivo. Differences in body mercury burden and antioxidant enzyme activities were statistically significant between the mercury-exposed

Heavy metals, islet function and diabetes development

“…It has been shown that 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, is significantly elevated in urine samples of people from mercury-contaminated areas. 109 The concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and total protein thiols and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were higher in the mercury-exposed group than in the control group. 84,109 Our recent study has also shown that mercury is capable of affecting the islet β-cell function and survival through an oxidative stress pathway in vivo and in vitro.…”

“…109 The concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and total protein thiols and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were higher in the mercury-exposed group than in the control group. 84,109 Our recent study has also shown that mercury is capable of affecting the islet β-cell function and survival through an oxidative stress pathway in vivo and in vitro. 104,110 Low-dose mercury induced mouse pancreatic islet β-cell dysfunction through a PI3K-activated or oxidative stress-triggered Akt pathway in cell culture and animal models.…”

Toxic effects of mercury, lead and gadolinium on vascular reactivity

“…However, in unexposed populations taken as controls, blood mercury concentration was reported to be 2.73 ng/ mL in New York City adults and 1 ng/mL in China (14,15). For many years mercury was used in diuretics or as an ingredient of antiseptics (4).…”

“…Another important mechanism of exposure is fish consumption. Mercury attains 5.65 ng/mL among regular fish consumers (13,14) and levels of 7 to 10 ng/mL among exposed workers (10,15).…”

Efeito da sazonalidade na exposição ao mercúrio e nos marcadores do estresse oxidativo e de inflamação em populações ribeirinhas da Amazônia

“…Posteriormente, foi investigado o possível efeito modulador dos micronutrientes também provenientes da dieta alimentar e das características sociais e demográficas sob os biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo e Hg-S. , 1998;BULAT et al, 1998;CHEN et al, 2005;GROTTO et al, 2010GROTTO et al, , 2011aHUSSAIN et al, 1999;PINHEIRO et al, 2008). (DA SILVA et al, 2007;PEROTTONI et al, 2004;VALENTINI et al, 2007VALENTINI et al, , 2008VALENTINI et al, , 2009.…”