An Investigation of Modifying Effects of Metallothionein Single-nucleotide Polymorphisms on the Association Between Mercury Exposure and Biomarker Levels

Overview

Journal Environ Health Perspect

Date 2012 Jan 12

PMID 22233731

Citations 26

Authors

Yi Wang

Jaclyn M Goodrich

Brenda Gillespie

Robert Werner

Niladri Basu

Alfred Franzblau

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have suggested that several genes that mediate mercury metabolism are polymorphic in humans.

Objective: We hypothesized that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in metallothionein (MT) genes may underlie interindividual differences in mercury biomarker levels. We studied the potential modifying effects of MT SNPs on mercury exposure-biomarker relationships.

Methods: We measured total mercury in urine and hair samples of 515 dental professionals. We also surveyed occupational and personal exposures to dental amalgam and dietary fish consumption, from which daily methylmercury (MeHg) intake was estimated. Log-transformed urine and hair levels were modeled in multivariable linear regression separately against respective exposure surrogates, and the effect modification of 13 MT SNPs on exposure was investigated.

Results: The mean mercury levels in urine (1.06 μg/L) and hair (0.51 μg/g) were not significantly different from the U.S. general population (0.95 μg/L and 0.47 μg/g, respectively). The mean estimated daily MeHg intake was 0.084 μg/kg/day (range, 0-0.98 μg/kg/day), with 25% of study population intakes exceeding the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference dose of 0.1 μg/kg/day. Multivariate regression analysis showed that subjects with the MT1M (rs2270837) [corrected] AA genotype (n = 10) or the MT2A (rs10636) CC genotype (n = 42) had lower urinary mercury levels than did those with the MT1M or MT2A GG genotype (n = 329 and 251, respectively) after controlling for exposure and potential confounders. After controlling for MeHg intake, subjects with MT1A (rs8052394) GA and GG genotypes (n = 24) or the MT1M (rs9936741) TT genotype (n = 459) had lower hair mercury levels than did subjects with MT1A AA (n = 113) or MT1M TC and CC genotypes (n = 15), respectively.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that some MT genetic polymorphisms may influence mercury biomarker concentrations at levels of exposure relevant to the general population.

Citing Articles

Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Mercury Levels and Neurological Symptoms: An Overview.

Perini J, Cardoso J, Knesse A, Pessoa-Silva F, Vasconcellos A, Machado D Toxics. 2024; 12(3).

PMID: 38535959 PMC: 10975854. DOI: 10.3390/toxics12030226.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Blood Mercury in European Pregnant Women and Children.

Dack K, Bustamante M, Taylor C, Llop S, Lozano M, Yousefi P Genes (Basel). 2023; 14(12).

PMID: 38136945 PMC: 10742428. DOI: 10.3390/genes14122123.

Role of MT1A Polymorphism and Environmental Mercury Exposure on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Sirivarasai J, Chaisungnern K, Panpunuan P, Chanprasertyothin S, Chansirikanjana S, Sritara P Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2021; 17:2429-2439.

PMID: 34326641 PMC: 8314684. DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S320374.

Metallothionein 2A gene polymorphisms in relation to diseases and trace element levels in humans.

Sekovanic A, Jurasovic J, Piasek M Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2020; 71(1):27-47.

PMID: 32597135 PMC: 7837243. DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2020-71-3349.

Mercury Exposure Assessment in Mother-Infant Pairs from Continental and Coastal Croatia.

Sekovanic A, Piasek M, Orct T, Grgec A, Matek Saric M, Stasenko S Biomolecules. 2020; 10(6).

PMID: 32471193 PMC: 7355586. DOI: 10.3390/biom10060821.

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