Exposure to Toxic Heavy Metals Can Influence Homocysteine Metabolism?

Overview

Journal Antioxidants (Basel)

Date 2020 Jan 8

PMID 31905706

Citations 13

Authors

Caterina Ledda

Emanuele Cannizzaro

Piero Lovreglio

Ermanno Vitale

Angela Stufano

Angelo Montana

Giovanni Li Volti

Venerando Rapisarda

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Homocysteine is a sulfur amino acid whose metabolism is activated in two pathways: remethylation to methionine, which requires folate and vitamin B, and transsulfuration to cystathionine, which needs pyridoxal-5'-phosphate. High homocysteine level increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular diseases, and cognitive impairment. Some evidence showed that exposure to these metals increased plasma homocysteine levels.

Methods: A systematic review was carried out to clarify the relationship between homocysteine blood levels and exposure to toxic heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Chromium).

Results: The results of this systematic review indicate that exposure to Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg is connected with nonphysiological homocysteine levels or vitamin B and folate serum concentrations.

Conclusions: These findings reinforce the importance of involvement in exposure to heavy metals in homocysteine metabolism. This supports the role of blood metals as potential upstream modifiable risk factors to prevent the development of other established risk factors as hyperhomocysteinemia.

Citing Articles

The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms.

Davidova S, Milushev V, Satchanska G Toxics. 2025; 12(12.

PMID: 39771090 PMC: 11679562. DOI: 10.3390/toxics12120875.

Association of plasma homocysteine with cardiometabolic multimorbidity: a cross-sectional study in northwest China.

Qiu J, Yang X, Wang Q, Yang X, Ma S, Zhang J Lipids Health Dis. 2024; 23(1):370.

PMID: 39533340 PMC: 11555799. DOI: 10.1186/s12944-024-02359-8.

First trimester prenatal metal mixtures, vitamins, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the project viva cohort.

Hernandez-Castro I, Rifas-Shiman S, Lin P, Chavarro J, Gold D, Zhang M Environ Int. 2024; 190:108909.

PMID: 39079333 PMC: 11389723. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108909.

Metabolomic changes in children with autism.

Al-Beltagi M, Saeed N, Bediwy A, Elbeltagi R World J Clin Pediatr. 2024; 13(2):92737.

PMID: 38947988 PMC: 11212761. DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i2.92737.

Hyperhomocysteinemia Is Associated With a Myriad of Age-Related Illnesses: A Potential Role for Metal Toxicity.

Olsen T, Refsum H, Eiser A Mayo Clin Proc. 2024; 99(9):1362-1368.

PMID: 38935017 PMC: 11374489. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2024.04.016.

References

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman D . Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009; 6(7):e1000097. PMC: 2707599. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097. View

Curro M, Gugliandolo A, Gangemi C, Risitano R, Ientile R, Caccamo D . Toxic effects of mildly elevated homocysteine concentrations in neuronal-like cells. Neurochem Res. 2014; 39(8):1485-95. DOI: 10.1007/s11064-014-1338-7. View

Ruan L, Chen W, Srinivasan S, Xu J, Toprak A, Berenson G . Plasma homocysteine is adversely associated with glomerular filtration rate in asymptomatic black and white young adults: the Bogalusa heart study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2009; 24(6):315-9. DOI: 10.1007/s10654-009-9340-0. View

Guo H, Chi J, Xing Y, Wang P . Influence of folic acid on plasma homocysteine levels & arterial endothelial function in patients with unstable angina. Indian J Med Res. 2009; 129(3):279-84. View

Roos D, Puntel R, Farina M, Aschner M, Bohrer D, Rocha J . Modulation of methylmercury uptake by methionine: prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction in rat liver slices by a mimicry mechanism. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2011; 252(1):28-35. PMC: 4917368. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.01.010. View

Bhunia A, Han H, Snowden A, Chatterjee S . Redox-regulated signaling by lactosylceramide in the proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells. J Biol Chem. 1997; 272(25):15642-9. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.272.25.15642. View

Chiba M, Shinohara A, Matsushita K, Watanabe H, Inaba Y . Indices of lead-exposure in blood and urine of lead-exposed workers and concentrations of major and trace elements and activities of SOD, GSH-Px and catalase in their blood. Tohoku J Exp Med. 1996; 178(1):49-62. DOI: 10.1620/tjem.178.49. View

Ganguly P, Alam S . Role of homocysteine in the development of cardiovascular disease. Nutr J. 2015; 14:6. PMC: 4326479. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-14-6. View

Whitfield J, Dy V, McQuilty R, Zhu G, Montgomery G, Ferreira M . Evidence of genetic effects on blood lead concentration. Environ Health Perspect. 2007; 115(8):1224-30. PMC: 1940084. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8847. View

10.

Elahi M, Kong Y, Matata B . Oxidative stress as a mediator of cardiovascular disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2010; 2(5):259-69. PMC: 2835914. DOI: 10.4161/oxim.2.5.9441. View

11.

Zhou J, Austin R . Contributions of hyperhomocysteinemia to atherosclerosis: Causal relationship and potential mechanisms. Biofactors. 2009; 35(2):120-9. DOI: 10.1002/biof.17. View

12.

Fuhr B, Rabenstein D . Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the solution chemistry of metal complexes. IX. The binding of cadmium, zinc, lead, and mercury by glutathione. J Am Chem Soc. 1973; 95(21):6944-50. DOI: 10.1021/ja00802a013. View

13.

Lee Y, Lee M, Bae S, Lee S, Kim S, Lee D . Association of homocysteine levels with blood lead levels and micronutrients in the US general population. J Prev Med Public Health. 2012; 45(6):387-93. PMC: 3514469. DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.6.387. View

14.

Tellez-Plaza M, Guallar E, Howard B, Umans J, Francesconi K, Goessler W . Cadmium exposure and incident cardiovascular disease. Epidemiology. 2013; 24(3):421-9. PMC: 4142588. DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31828b0631. View

15.

Faeh D, Chiolero A, Paccaud F . Homocysteine as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease: should we (still) worry about?. Swiss Med Wkly. 2007; 136(47-48):745-56. DOI: 10.4414/smw.2006.11283. View

16.

Jain N, Potula V, Schwartz J, Vokonas P, Sparrow D, Wright R . Lead levels and ischemic heart disease in a prospective study of middle-aged and elderly men: the VA Normative Aging Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2007; 115(6):871-5. PMC: 1892138. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9629. View

17.

Uthus E, Ross S . Dietary selenium (Se) and copper (Cu) interact to affect homocysteine metabolism in rats. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008; 129(1-3):213-20. DOI: 10.1007/s12011-008-8295-4. View

18.

Clarkson T, Vyas J, Ballatori N . Mechanisms of mercury disposition in the body. Am J Ind Med. 2007; 50(10):757-64. DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20476. View

19.

Gallagher C, Meliker J . Total blood mercury, plasma homocysteine, methylmalonic acid and folate in US children aged 3-5 years, NHANES 1999-2004. Sci Total Environ. 2011; 409(8):1399-405. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.01.021. View

20.

Wang T, Jia G, Zhang J, Ma Y, Liu L, Zhang N . Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency and elevated plasma total homocysteine in workers with chronic exposure to chromate. Occup Environ Med. 2011; 68(12):870-5. DOI: 10.1136/oem.2010.063305. View