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Effect of Lead on Lipid Peroxidation, Phospholipids Composition, and Methylation in Erythrocyte of Human

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Abstract

Lead (Pb) is one of the most abundant heavy metals on earth considered as number one environmental persistent toxin and health hazard affecting millions of people in all age groups. After entering bloodstream, 99 % of Pb is accumulated in erythrocytes and causes poisoning. Toxic Pb effects on erythrocytes membrane’s composition of phosphatidyl serine (PS), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), phosphatidyl choline (PC), and sphingomyelin (SM), and phospholipids transmethylation were determined. Lipid peroxidation in Pb-exposed erythrocytes was evaluated as malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in presence of Fe and vitamin E to understand severity of Pb toxicity and its mitigation. Pb (0.5–5.0 μM) degraded PS (12 to 31 %, P < 0.05–0.001) and elevated SM (19–51 %, P < 0.05–0.001). Composition of PC and PE were diminished (22 %) and elevated (29 %), respectively, with higher Pb exposure (5.0 μM, P < 0.001). Pb toxicity suppressed (P < 0.001) transmethylation of phospholipids in membranes (34, 41, and 50 %, respectively, with 0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 μM). Pb-induced dose-related MDA production (P < 0.05–0.001) in erythrocytes was obtained, which was accentuated in presence of Fe (P < 0.05–0.001). The vitamin E mitigated (P < 0.05–0.01) the severity of Pb-induced lipid peroxidation. The ratio PS/SM showed maximum change of −27 (P < 0.01), −30 (P < 0.01), and −54 % (P < 0.001), respectively at 0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 μM Pb exposures. Ratios PC/SM and PS/PE were at the second, whereas PE/PS at the third order. The study suggests that the mechanisms underlying distortion of compositional phospholipids, inhibition of transmethylation, and exasperated phospholipid peroxidative damage are the active phenomena of Pb toxicity in erythrocytes.

Composition of phospholipids classes in bilayer membrane surface were differentially disturbed by lead (0.5, 2.5 or 5.0 µM) interaction with human erythrocytes. Synthesis of PC from PE through trans-methylation process in bilayer membrane was steadily inhibited by increasing concentration of lead. The ratios PS/SM, PC/SM, PS/PE and PE/PS were significantly despoiled by Pb toxicity. Pb degraded PS and PC located in inner and outer surfaces of membrane bilayer and radically caused oxidative damage to erythrocytes. Pb-induced dose related oxidative stress in erythrocytes was accentuated in presence of pro-oxidant Fe II and mitigated by anti-oxidant Vitamin E

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Acknowledgements

The author is highly grateful to Professor Dr. M. Ackenheil for continuous encouragement and help. This study is dedicated to his affectionate memory. Thanks are also due to Ms. Shaheen Rehman for help in analysis and preparation of the manuscript. The work was performed at the Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maxmilian University of Munich, Germany.

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The author reports no conflict of interest.

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  1. Division of Environmental Sciences, Section of Environmental Health and Toxicology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, 191121, Jammu and Kashmir, India

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Shafiq-ur-Rehman Effect of Lead on Lipid Peroxidation, Phospholipids Composition, and Methylation in Erythrocyte of Human. Biol Trace Elem Res 154, 433–439 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9745-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9745-1

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