Association of arsenic-related AS3MT gene and antioxidant SOD2 gene expression in industrial workers occupationally exposed to arsenic

Abstract

Increasing anthropogenic activities related to industrialization and exposure to different toxicants increases the health hazards of industrial workers. Arsenic (As) exposure induces DNA damage and generates reactive oxygen species, which may result in many disease phenotypes. Present study explores the expression variation of As 3 methyltransferase ( AS3MT) and superoxide dismutase ( SOD2) genes in blood samples of industrial workers of different industries (brick kiln, paint, welding, pesticide, and furniture) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 250 blood samples of industrial workers were collected along with age- and gender-matched controls. Relative expression of AS3MT ( p < 0.05) and SOD2 ( p < 0.01) genes was found significantly downregulated in exposed workers compared to controls. Significant low levels of AS3MT and SOD2 gene expression were observed in workers in the paint and pesticide industry compared to other industries. Similarly, reduced expression of AS3MT ( p < 0.05) and SOD2 ( p < 0.01) was observed in smokers of industrial workers compared to smokers of the control group. Workers with >10 years of exposure had less AS3MT expression compared to workers with <10 years of exposure. Additionally, a positive Spearman correlation was observed between AS3MT versus SOD2 ( r = 0.742; p < 0.0001) in industrial workers. This study suggests that decreased AS3MT and SOD2 expression levels may lead to bioaccumulation of As in the body accompanied by increased oxidative stress ultimately inducing DNA damage.

VDR, SOD-2, and CYP24A1 Gene Expression in Different Genotypes of BsmI SNP of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene in Individuals with Hypovitaminosis

“…In this study, the distribution of genotypes and alleles of BsmI SNP were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and there were no significant associations between BsmI genotypes and serum vitamin D levels or the other markers (Table 5), as previously demonstrated by Retamoso and collaborators [16]. In other reports, no significant differences between vitamin D levels or genotypic and allelic frequencies of polymorphisms in the VDR gene were found, even though cross-sectional studies have shown that VDR gene polymorphisms can reduce the affinity of the VDR for serum vitamin D levels [24].…”

“…Notably, adipose tissue and the brain are the organs where vitamin D seems to play an important, albeit not fully known, role [ 3 ]. In addition, the SOD2 gene has an antioxidant function, which may be relevant at low serum vitamin D levels [ 16 ]. Therefore, it is important to shed more light on how the different genotypes of the BsmI SNP of the VDR gene can modulate the expression of the genes of the VDR itself and others in its pathway.…”

Involvement of a AS3MT/c‐Fos/p53 signaling axis in arsenic‐induced tumor in human lung cells

“…Recently, although several studies have reported that the expression level of AS3MT in populations exposed to arsenic, there is still no definitive answer 25,26 . We conducted ELSAs to quantitatively measure the levels of the AS3MT protein in peripheral blood samples from all subjects.…”

“…still no definitive answer. 25,26 We conducted ELSAs to quantitatively measure the levels of the AS3MT protein in peripheral blood samples from all subjects. The population that was exposed to arsenic long-term had significantly higher expression levels of AS3MT compared to the control group (Figure 1A).…”