Sodium meta-arsenite induced reactive oxygen species in human red blood cells: impaired antioxidant and membrane redox systems, haemoglobin oxidation, and morphological changes

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is an air and water toxicant that causes cancer in multiple organs. Humans are exposed to As through contaminated water. We have examined the cytotoxicity of sodium meta-arsenite (SA), an As(III) compound, in human red blood cells (RBC) under in vitro conditions. Haemolysates were prepared from human RBC treated with different concentrations of SA (0.1-5.0 mM) for 5 h at 37 °C. SA treatment of RBC caused significant increase in methaemoglobin formation, protein and lipid oxidation, and nitric oxide levels. It also resulted in decrease in glutathione levels, methaemoglobin reductase activity and plasma membrane redox system. SA exposure also inhibited the pathways of glucose metabolism while increasing AMP deaminase and glyoxalase-I. It impaired the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence systems which resulted in decreased antioxidant power and a compromised ability to quench free radicals. SA exposure also damaged the membrane since it decreased the activity of membrane bound enzymes, increased the osmotic fragility of treated cells and induced gross morphological changes. This cytotoxicity was the result of oxidative damage since the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was increased in SA treated erythrocytes. Thus As(III) causes extensive damage to RBC which impairs their antioxidant system and alters the major cellular metabolic pathways. All this has the potential to lower the oxygen carrying capacity of RBC and reduce their lifespan in blood.

3,4‐Dihydroxybenzaldehyde lowers ROS generation and protects human red blood cells from arsenic(III) induced oxidative damage

“…SA‐induced oxidative stress damages heme proteins, mainly Hb due to its abundance in RBC, which releases the bound iron . Heme proteins were protected from this damage by DHB in a dose dependent manner since concentration of free iron in hemolysates was decreased in the DHB + SA samples, compared to SA alone treated RBC (Figure ).…”

“…Human RBC were incubated with 0.5–5.0 mM DHB at 37°C for 30 min followed by treatment with 2.5 mM SA for 5 h at 37°C. The dose of SA used (2.5 mM) was based on our previous results . SA at 2.5 mM concentration produces significant changes in parameters to be determined so that protective effect of DHB could be evaluated.…”

“…The molecular mechanism of As‐induced toxicity is not very clear but oxidative stress has been implicated to play as major role in it . We have previously shown that sodium meta‐arsenite (NaAsO 2 , SA), a trivalent As compound, causes cellular damage and morphological changes in human red blood cells (RBC) . Since As toxicity affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, research to find ways and methods to overcome its damaging effects is of utmost importance.…”

Biophysical, docking, and cellular studies on the effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles on blood components: in vitro

“…The CD spectrum of HHb shows two characteristic minima at 208 and 222 nm, reflecting the α-helical structure of the HHb. [37][38][39] Figure 8 shows that the secondary structure of HHb has not experienced substantial structural changes after the addition of different concentrations of CNP. This data indicated that the regular secondary structure of the HHb remained unchanged after interaction with CNP.…”

Chronic arsenic intoxication diagnostic score (CAsIDS)

“…Arsenite causes extensive damage to red blood cells, which impairs their antioxidant system and alters the major cellular metabolic pathways (Maheshwari, Khan, & Mahmood, 2017). Splenomegaly with hypersplenism may be present in association with arsenic-related liver disease (Nevens et al, 1990).…”