Elevated levels of plasma Big endothelin-1 and its relation to hypertension and skin lesions in individuals exposed to arsenic

• Published in: Toxicology and applied pharmacology Vol. 259; no. 2; pp. 187 - 194
• Main Authors: Hossain, Ekhtear, Islam, Khairul, Yeasmin, Fouzia, Karim, Md. Rezaul, Rahman, Mashiur, Agarwal, Smita, Hossain, Shakhawoat, Aziz, Abdul, Al Mamun, Abdullah, Sheikh, Afzal, Haque, Abedul, Hossain, M. Tofazzal, Hossain, Mostaque, Haris, Parvez I., Ikemura, Noriaki, Inoue, Kiyoshi, Miyataka, Hideki, Himeno, Seiichiro, Hossain, Khaled
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.03.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ABUNDANCE; Adolescent; Adult; ARSENIC; Arsenic - analysis; Arsenic Poisoning - blood; Arsenic Poisoning - etiology; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Bangladesh; Big endothelin; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chemical agents; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; DRINKING WATER; Endothelin-1 - blood; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY; Female; HAIR; Hair - chemistry; Humans; HYPERTENSION; Hypertension - blood; Hypertension - chemically induced; ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY; Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Middle Aged; NAILS; Nails - chemistry; Skin Diseases - blood; Skin Diseases - chemically induced; Skin lesions; Toxicology; Tumors; Water Supply - analysis; Young Adult; Asia; Bangladesh; Hypertension; Big ET-1; As; Bangladesh; Arsenic; Big endothelin; ICP-MS; Skin lesions; Human; Carcinogen; Biological fluid; Skin disease; Cardiovascular disease; Endothelin 1; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0041-008X; 1096-0333
• DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.12.023

Chronic arsenic (As) exposure affects the endothelial system causing several diseases. Big endothelin-1 (Big ET-1), the biological precursor of endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a more accurate indicator of the degree of activation of the endothelial system. Effect of As exposure on the plasma Big ET-1 levels and its physiological implications have not yet been documented. We evaluated plasma Big ET-1 levels and their relation to hypertension and skin lesions in As exposed individuals in Bangladesh. A total of 304 study subjects from the As-endemic and non-endemic areas in Bangladesh were recruited for this study. As concentrations in water, hair and nails were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The plasma Big ET-1 levels were measured using a one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay kit. Significant increase in Big ET-1 levels were observed with the increasing concentrations of As in drinking water, hair and nails. Further, before and after adjusting with different covariates, plasma Big ET-1 levels were found to be significantly associated with the water, hair and nail As concentrations of the study subjects. Big ET-1 levels were also higher in the higher exposure groups compared to the lowest (reference) group. Interestingly, we observed that Big ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive and skin lesion groups compared to the normotensive and without skin lesion counterpart, respectively of the study subjects in As-endemic areas. Thus, this study demonstrated a novel dose–response relationship between As exposure and plasma Big ET-1 levels indicating the possible involvement of plasma Big ET-1 levels in As-induced hypertension and skin lesions. ► Plasma Big ET-1 is an indicator of endothelial damage. ► Plasma Big ET-1 level increases dose-dependently in arsenic exposed individuals. ► Study subjects in arsenic-endemic areas with hypertension have elevated Big ET-1 levels. ► Study subjects with arsenic-induced skin lesions show elevated plasma Big ET-1 levels. ► Arsenic-induced hypertension and skin lesions may be linked to plasma Big ET-1 levels.