BACKGROUND: Today, various heavy metals are widespread in the ecosystem and have become important environmental contaminants. Exposure to these hazardous metals such as chromium usually results in cytotoxicity and large-scale protein changes which reflect pathologic states. METHODS: We used a comprehensive proteomic tool to survey changes in plasma proteins elicited by two chromium species (Cr(6+) and Cr(3+)). RT-PCR was applied to evaluate levels of cytokines associated with adverse responses. Lectin blotting was used to investigate the contents of fucosylated proteins. RESULTS: Protein profiles revealed statistically significant changes in the intensity of 12 proteins. The network analysis implied that Cr(6+) application strongly induced the IL-6-stimulated inflammatory pathway. mRNA levels of specific cytokines were also correlated with inflammatory events. Increased IL-6 modulation of the fucosylation of haptoglobin was also identified in Cr(6+)-treated samples. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Cr(6+) may induce IL-6-mediated inflammatory responses which result in hepatic injury. This paper highlights the applications of functional proteomics of plasma profiles and fucosylated glycoproteins as a predictive tool to monitor human health in contact with chromium.
BACKGROUND: Today, various heavy metals are widespread in the ecosystem and have become important environmental contaminants. Exposure to these hazardous metals such as chromium usually results in cytotoxicity and large-scale protein changes which reflect pathologic states. METHODS: We used a comprehensive proteomic tool to survey changes in plasma proteins elicited by two chromium species (Cr(6+) and Cr(3+)). RT-PCR was applied to evaluate levels of cytokines associated with adverse responses. Lectin blotting was used to investigate the contents of fucosylated proteins. RESULTS: Protein profiles revealed statistically significant changes in the intensity of 12 proteins. The network analysis implied that Cr(6+) application strongly induced the IL-6-stimulated inflammatory pathway. mRNA levels of specific cytokines were also correlated with inflammatory events. Increased IL-6 modulation of the fucosylation of haptoglobin was also identified in Cr(6+)-treated samples. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Cr(6+) may induce IL-6-mediated inflammatory responses which result in hepatic injury. This paper highlights the applications of functional proteomics of plasma profiles and fucosylated glycoproteins as a predictive tool to monitor human health in contact with chromium.
Authors: Michael S Madejczyk; Christine E Baer; William E Dennis; Valerie C Minarchick; Stephen S Leonard; David A Jackson; Jonathan D Stallings; John A Lewis Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-05-19 Impact factor: 3.240