Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase, Low Blood Lead Levels, Social Factors, and Intellectual Function in an Afro-Brazilian Children Community

Overview

Journal Biol Trace Elem Res

Date 2021 Mar 16

PMID 33723800

Citations 1

Authors

Homegnon A F Bah

Ana Laura S Dos Anjos

Erival A Gomes-Junior

Matheus J Bandeira

Chrissie F de Carvalho

Nathalia R Dos Santos

Victor O Martinez

Elisangela V Adorno

Jose A Menezes-Filho

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) enzyme catalyzes the second phase of the heme biosynthesis and is involved in lead toxicokinetics. This research aimed to evaluate its influence on the relationship between blood lead (PbB) levels and intellectual performance in Afro-Brazilian children. PbB, hemoglobin concentration, ALAD activity, and polymorphism were determined in whole blood. Anthropometric, socioeconomic, and family environment stimuli data were collected with appropriate instruments. The non-verbal intelligence of children and their mothers or guardians was assessed using the correspondent Raven's Progressive Matrix versions. The medians (range) of PbB levels and ALAD activity were 1.0 μg/dL (0.1-21.3) and, 71 U/L (31-113), respectively. ALAD G177C was distributed as follows: 97.9% for ALAD1/1 and 2.1% for ALAD1/2 genotypes. The mean of Raven raw score was 19.3 (± 5.6) points and there were no differences according to sex or environmental Pb exposure. No statistically significant association was observed between PbB level and children's IQ. However, ALAD activity presented an inverse significant association with PbB levels, children's percentile IQ, and children's IQ/Age ratio, suggesting a neuroprotective role of ALAD1 genotype in those with low PbB level.

Citing Articles

Genetic Polymorphism of Delta Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase () Gene and Symptoms of Chronic Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Children within the Brazilian Amazon.

Perini J, Silva M, Vasconcellos A, Viana P, Lima M, Jesus I Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(16).

PMID: 34444495 PMC: 8394242. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168746.

References

Betts K . CDC updates guidelines for children's lead exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2012; 120(7):a268. PMC: 3404672. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.120-a268. View

Koller K, Brown T, Spurgeon A, Levy L . Recent developments in low-level lead exposure and intellectual impairment in children. Environ Health Perspect. 2004; 112(9):987-94. PMC: 1247191. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.6941. View

Lidsky T, Schneider J . Lead neurotoxicity in children: basic mechanisms and clinical correlates. Brain. 2002; 126(Pt 1):5-19. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awg014. View

Patrick L . Lead toxicity, a review of the literature. Part 1: Exposure, evaluation, and treatment. Altern Med Rev. 2006; 11(1):2-22. View

Sharma P, Chambial S, Shukla K . Lead and neurotoxicity. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2015; 30(1):1-2. PMC: 4310833. DOI: 10.1007/s12291-015-0480-6. View

Ferron M, Lima A, Saldiva P, Gouveia N . Environmental lead poisoning among children in Porto Alegre state, Southern Brazil. Rev Saude Publica. 2012; 46(2):226-33. DOI: 10.1590/s0034-89102012000200004. View

Bressler J, GOLDSTEIN G . Mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity. Biochem Pharmacol. 1991; 41(4):479-84. DOI: 10.1016/0006-2952(91)90617-e. View

Chen Y, Zhao J, Liu J, Cui J, Li L, Tian W . Lack of association of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase genotype with blood lead levels in environmentally exposed children of Uygur and Han populations. Acta Paediatr. 2008; 97(12):1717-20. DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.01003.x. View

Zheng Y, Wang Y, Song W . [Relationship between delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase gene polymorphism and blood levels of lead and zinc protoporphyrin in children exposed to lead]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2001; 35(2):96-7. View

10.

da Cunha Martins Jr A, Barcelos G, Jacob Ferreira A, Souza M, Colus I, Antunes L . Effects of Lead Exposure and Genetic Polymorphisms on ALAD and GPx Activities in Brazilian Battery Workers. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2015; 78(16):1073-81. DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2015.1055527. View

11.

Krieg Jr E, Butler M, Chang M, Liu T, Yesupriya A, Lindegren M . Lead and cognitive function in ALAD genotypes in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2009; 31(6):364-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2009.08.003. View

12.

Suzen H, Duydu Y, Aydin A, Isimer A, Vural N . Influence of the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) polymorphism on biomarkers of lead exposure in Turkish storage battery manufacturing workers. Am J Ind Med. 2003; 43(2):165-71. DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10158. View

13.

Taha M, Gaber O, Sabbah N, Abd Elazem A . Association between δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase G177C polymorphism and blood lead levels in brain tumor patients. Mol Clin Oncol. 2015; 3(5):995-1000. PMC: 4535054. DOI: 10.3892/mco.2015.589. View

14.

Pawlas N, Broberg K, Olewinska E, Prokopowicz A, Skerfving S, Pawlas K . Modification by the genes ALAD and VDR of lead-induced cognitive effects in children. Neurotoxicology. 2011; 33(1):37-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2011.10.012. View

15.

Zheng G, Tian L, Liang Y, Broberg K, Lei L, Guo W . δ-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase genotype predicts toxic effects of lead on workers' peripheral nervous system. Neurotoxicology. 2011; 32(4):374-82. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2011.03.006. View

16.

Sobin C, Gutierrez M, Alterio H . Polymorphisms of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and peptide transporter 2 (PEPT2) genes in children with low-level lead exposure. Neurotoxicology. 2009; 30(6):881-7. PMC: 2789866. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2009.08.006. View

17.

Lucchini R, Zoni S, Guazzetti S, Bontempi E, Micheletti S, Broberg K . Inverse association of intellectual function with very low blood lead but not with manganese exposure in Italian adolescents. Environ Res. 2012; 118:65-71. PMC: 3477579. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.08.003. View

18.

Sobin C, Flores-Montoya M, Gutierrez M, Parisi N, Schaub T . δ-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase single nucleotide polymorphism 2 (ALAD2) and peptide transporter 2*2 haplotype (hPEPT2*2) differently influence neurobehavior in low-level lead exposed children. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2014; 47:137-45. PMC: 4291309. DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.12.001. View

19.

Bah H, Bandeira M, Gomes-Junior E, Anjos A, Rodrigues Y, Dos Santos N . Environmental exposure to lead and hematological parameters in Afro-Brazilian children living near artisanal glazed pottery workshops. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2020; 55(8):964-974. DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2020.1761738. View

20.

Martinez V, Lima F, Rocha R, Ferreol Bah H, Carvalho C, Menezes-Filho J . Interaction of Toxoplasma gondii infection and elevated blood lead levels on children's neurobehavior. Neurotoxicology. 2020; 78:177-185. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.03.010. View