The influence of high and low levels of arsenic in the human body on the process of carcinogenesis, based on function, expression and genetic polymorphisms in the genes encoding the two arsenic transporters - water channels AQP and glucose transporters glut (SLC2A)

Abstract

Arsenic is a metallic element commonly found in soil, water and plants, and thereby can easily enter the food chain. When arsenic enters the body through food consumption, it subsequently passes into the cells through water channels (AQP) and glucose transporters (GLUT), where it may exert a various metabolic alterations including genotoxicity, which may finally promote carcinogenesis. However, there are human populations showing a reduced adverse effects of arsenic. This is mainly due to a natural selection caused by a long-term environmental exposure to a large doses of arsenic. Aquaporins AQP3, AQP7, AQP9, AQP10 and glucose transporters SLC2A1 (GLUT1), SLC2A4 (GLUT4) are considered as the candidate genes associated with resistance to arsenic in the carcinogenesis process as they are closely related to the occurrence of a various types of cancers, while their products are associated with arsenic transport.