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Genetic variation in glutathione-related genes and body burden of methylmercury.

Engström, Karin LU ; Strömberg, Ulf LU ; Lundh, Thomas LU ; Johansson, Ingegerd ; Vessby, Bengt ; Hallmans, Göran ; Skerfving, Staffan LU and Broberg Palmgren, Karin LU orcid (2008) In Environmental Health Perspectives 116(6). p.734-739
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exposure to toxic methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption is a large problem worldwide, and it has led to governmental recommendations of reduced fish consumption and blacklisting of mercury-contaminated fish. The elimination kinetics of MeHg varies greatly among individuals. Knowledge about the reasons for such variation is of importance for improving the risk assessment for MeHg. One possible explanation is hereditary differences in MeHg metabolism. MeHg is eliminated from the body as a glutathione (GSH) conjugate. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to assess the influence of polymorphisms in GSH-synthesizing [glutamyl-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM-588) and glutamyl-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit... (More)
BACKGROUND: Exposure to toxic methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption is a large problem worldwide, and it has led to governmental recommendations of reduced fish consumption and blacklisting of mercury-contaminated fish. The elimination kinetics of MeHg varies greatly among individuals. Knowledge about the reasons for such variation is of importance for improving the risk assessment for MeHg. One possible explanation is hereditary differences in MeHg metabolism. MeHg is eliminated from the body as a glutathione (GSH) conjugate. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to assess the influence of polymorphisms in GSH-synthesizing [glutamyl-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM-588) and glutamyl-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC-129)] or GSH-conjugating [glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1-105 and GSTP1-114)] genes on MeHg retention. METHODS: Based on information obtained from questionnaires, 292 subjects from northern Sweden had a high consumption of fish (lean/fat fish two to three times per week or more). We measured total Hg in erythrocytes (Ery-Hg) and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma (P-PUFA; an exposure marker for fish intake). RESULTS: The GSTP1 genotype modified Ery-Hg; effects were seen for GSTP1-105 and -114 separately, and combining them resulted in stronger effects. We found evidence of effect modification: individuals with zero or one variant allele demonstrated a steeper regression slope for Ery-Hg (p = 0.038) compared with individuals with two or more variant alleles. The GCLM-588 genotype also influenced Ery-Hg (p = 0.035): Individuals with the GCLM-588 TT genotype demonstrated the highest Ery-Hg, but we saw no evidence of effect modification with increasing P-PUFA. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a role of GSH-related polymorphisms in MeHg metabolism. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Environmental Health Perspectives
volume
116
issue
6
pages
734 - 739
publisher
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
external identifiers
  • wos:000256254100025
  • pmid:18560528
  • scopus:46749087112
ISSN
1552-9924
DOI
10.1289/ehp.10804
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
53b16d33-0cf1-4a58-b92a-d2f5e538d387 (old id 1168758)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18560528?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:24:07
date last changed
2022-02-28 07:47:10
@article{53b16d33-0cf1-4a58-b92a-d2f5e538d387,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: Exposure to toxic methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption is a large problem worldwide, and it has led to governmental recommendations of reduced fish consumption and blacklisting of mercury-contaminated fish. The elimination kinetics of MeHg varies greatly among individuals. Knowledge about the reasons for such variation is of importance for improving the risk assessment for MeHg. One possible explanation is hereditary differences in MeHg metabolism. MeHg is eliminated from the body as a glutathione (GSH) conjugate. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to assess the influence of polymorphisms in GSH-synthesizing [glutamyl-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM-588) and glutamyl-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC-129)] or GSH-conjugating [glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1-105 and GSTP1-114)] genes on MeHg retention. METHODS: Based on information obtained from questionnaires, 292 subjects from northern Sweden had a high consumption of fish (lean/fat fish two to three times per week or more). We measured total Hg in erythrocytes (Ery-Hg) and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma (P-PUFA; an exposure marker for fish intake). RESULTS: The GSTP1 genotype modified Ery-Hg; effects were seen for GSTP1-105 and -114 separately, and combining them resulted in stronger effects. We found evidence of effect modification: individuals with zero or one variant allele demonstrated a steeper regression slope for Ery-Hg (p = 0.038) compared with individuals with two or more variant alleles. The GCLM-588 genotype also influenced Ery-Hg (p = 0.035): Individuals with the GCLM-588 TT genotype demonstrated the highest Ery-Hg, but we saw no evidence of effect modification with increasing P-PUFA. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a role of GSH-related polymorphisms in MeHg metabolism.}},
  author       = {{Engström, Karin and Strömberg, Ulf and Lundh, Thomas and Johansson, Ingegerd and Vessby, Bengt and Hallmans, Göran and Skerfving, Staffan and Broberg Palmgren, Karin}},
  issn         = {{1552-9924}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{734--739}},
  publisher    = {{National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences}},
  series       = {{Environmental Health Perspectives}},
  title        = {{Genetic variation in glutathione-related genes and body burden of methylmercury.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.10804}},
  doi          = {{10.1289/ehp.10804}},
  volume       = {{116}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}