Blood metallothionein transcript as a biomarker for metal sensitivity: low blood metallothionein transcripts in arsenicosis patients from Guizhou, China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Because metallothionein (MT) is a metal-binding protein that protects against metal intoxication, it could be a biomarker for individual sensitivity to metal toxicity.

Objective

We assessed the use of bloodborne MT transcript as a reflection of tissue MT levels and examined the potential role of MT in arsenic toxicity in an environmentally exposed human population.

Method

Rodents were treated with zinc or nonmetallic MT inducers for 4 days, and the blood and tissues were collected for MT transcript analysis by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and MT protein determination by the cadmium-hemoglobin assay. Blood and buccal cell samples were collected from arsenicosis patients and healthy subjects residing in Guizhou, China, and total R

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1913577 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature