Urinary neutral endopeptidase in workers exposed to cadmium: interaction with cigarette smoking
OBJECTIVES: Structural impairment of the renal proximal tubular epithelium induced by cadmium (Cd) was investigated by measuring the concentration of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP), an ectoenzyme of the apical brush border, in the urine of 106 male workers employed in a Cd smelter (among whom 52...
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Published in | Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 54; no. 6; pp. 432 - 436 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
01.06.1997
BMJ Publishing Group BMJ BMJ Publishing Group LTD |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | OBJECTIVES: Structural impairment of the renal proximal tubular epithelium induced by cadmium (Cd) was investigated by measuring the concentration of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP), an ectoenzyme of the apical brush border, in the urine of 106 male workers employed in a Cd smelter (among whom 52 were occupationally exposed to Cd), and by comparing it with other tubular markers (low molecular weight proteins, lysosomal enzymes). METHODS: NEP (EC 3.4.24.11), beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) (EC 3.2.1.30), and NAG-B isoenzyme activities were measured by fluorimetric assays, whereas the concentrations of retinol binding protein (RBP), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M), and Clara cell protein (CC16) were measured by automated latex agglutination techniques. RESULTS: An increased urinary excretion of NEP as well as microproteins was found only in subjects excreting more than 5 micrograms Cd/g creatinine. In this group, NEP concentrations were significantly higher in the subjects who smoked. This significant interaction could not be found for any other marker tested. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that NEP enzymuria is high even at low exposures to Cd (with a threshold of urinary cadmium excretion (U-Cd) at 5 micrograms/g creatinine), indicating early structural alterations. Moreover, its particular sensitivity to smoking could be useful in the detection of new population clusters potentially more susceptible to development of nephrotoxic insult. |
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Bibliography: | istex:5F8B53A215EDD0DDA0870A73A8DEE4D28DDA88D9 PMID:9245950 href:oemed-54-432.pdf local:oemed;54/6/432 ark:/67375/NVC-RNZ239ZJ-8 ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1351-0711 1470-7926 |
DOI: | 10.1136/oem.54.6.432 |