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Biomedical subjects

D Lison

Publications and source records attributed to D Lison.

95 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Plasminogen activator activity of cultured murine macrophages and effects of isopropylmethylphosphonofluoridate (sarin).

Casein-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages cultured in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) express u-PA. Induction is maximal after 4 hr of stimulation and u-PA activity is mainly recovered with the membrane fraction of the cellular lysate. This enzymatic activity is inhibited by isopropylmethylphosphonofluoridate after stimulation by PMA. The presence of the organophosphorus compound before stimulation does not affect the activity. The results of the present study on the kinetics of u-PA activity in cultured macrophages, its subcellular localization and the effect of an organophosphorus ester are consistent with the concept that the development of pericellular proteolysis proceeds through a series of stages, namely, (a) synthesis of pro-u-PA, (b) binding to membrane receptors, (c) activation to a double-chain u-PA, and (d) conversion of plasminogen into plasmin. The assay procedure developed here provides a sensitive tool to investigate the mechanism of interference of chemicals with several steps of induction of this enzymatic activity in macrophages.

Animals↗

In vitro effect of mercury and vanadium on superoxide anion production and plasminogen activator activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages.

The in vitro effects of mercuric chloride and vanadate were examined on two functions of mouse peritoneal macrophages, i.e., the superoxide anion production and the plasminogen activator (PA) activity. Vanadate, at concentrations which do not affect the viability of the cells, does not seriously alter any of these functions. High concentrations of mercury depress the respiratory burst; this effect results from loss of the reducing properties of cellular NADPH. Low concentrations of mercury stimulate the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on PA activity. The mechanism of this stimulation does not involve the protein kinase C system. It is hypothesized that mercury could enhance the synthesis of PA, its translocation to the cell surface, or its binding to the membrane receptors.

Animals↗

Usefulness of biomarkers of exposure to inorganic mercury, lead, or cadmium in controlling occupational and environmental risks of nephrotoxicity.

A successful prevention of renal diseases induced by occupational or environmental exposure to toxic metals such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), or cadmium (Cd) largely relies on the capability to detect nephrotoxic effects at a stage when they are still reversible or at least not yet compromising renal function. The knowledge of dose-effect/response relations has been useful to control nephrotoxic effects of these metals through a "biological monitoring of exposure approach". Chronic occupational exposure to inorganic mercury (mainly mercury vapor) may result in renal alterations affecting both tubules and glomeruli. Most of the structural or functional renal changes become significant when urinary mercury (HgU) exceeds 50 micrograms Hg/g creatinine. However, a marked reduction of the urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 was found at a HgU of 35 micrograms Hg/g creatinine. As renal changes evidenced in moderately exposed workers were not related to the duration of Hg exposure, it is believed that those changes are reversible and mainly the consequence of recently absorbed mercury. Thus, monitoring HgU is useful for controlling the nephrotoxic risk of overexposure to inorganic mercury; HgU should not exceed 50 micrograms Hg/g creatinine in order to prevent cytotoxic and functional renal effects. Several studies on Pb workers with blood lead concentrations (PbB) usually below 70 micrograms Pb/dl have disclosed either no renal effects or subclinical changes of marginal or unknown health significance. Changes in urinary excretion+ of eicosanoids was not associated with deleterious consequences on either the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)--estimated from the creatinine clearance (C(Cr))--or renal hemodynamics if the workers' PbB was kept below 70 micrograms Pb/dL. The health significance of a slight renal hyperfiltration state in Pb workers is yet unknown. In terms of Pb body burden, a mean tibia Pb concentration of about 60 micrograms Pb/g bone mineral (that is 5 to 10 times the average "normal" concentration corresponding to a cumulative PbB index of 900 micrograms Pb/dL x year) did not affect the GFR in male workers. This conclusion may not necessarily be extrapolated to the general population, as recent studies have disclosed inverse associations between PbB and GFR at low-level environmental Pb exposure. A 10-fold increase in PbB (e.g., from 4 to 40 micrograms Pb/dL) was associated with a reduction of 10-13 mL/min in the C(Cr) and the odds ratio of having impaired renal function (viz. C(Cr) < 5th percentile: 52 and 43 mL/min in men and women, respectively) was 3.8 (CI 1.4-10.4; p = 0.01). However, the causal implication of Pb in this association remains to be clarified. The Cd concentration in urine (CdU) has been proposed as an indirect biological indicator for Cd accumulation in the kidney. Several biomarkers for detecting nephrotoxic effects of Cd at different renal sites were studied in relation to CdU. In occupationally exposed males, the CdU thresholds for significant alterations of renal markers ranged, according to the marker, from 2.4 to 11.5 micrograms Cd/g creatinine. A threshold of 10 micrograms Cd/g creatinine (corresponding to 200 micrograms Cd/g renal cortex: the critical Cd concentration in the kidney) is confirmed for the occurrence of low-molecular-mass proteinuria (functional effect) and subsequent loss of renal filtration reserve capacity. In workers, microproteinuria was found reversible when reduction or cessation of exposure occurred timely when tubular damage was still mild (beta(2)-microglobulinuria < 1500 micrograms/g creatinine) and CdU had never exceeded 20 micrograms Cd/g creatinine. As the predictive significance of other renal changes (biochemical or cytotoxic) is still unknown, it seems prudent to recommend that occupational exposure to Cd should not allow that CdU exceeds 5 micrograms Cd/g creatinine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Belgium↗

Prospective study on the reversibility of neurobehavioral effects in workers exposed to manganese dioxide.

In 1987, a cross-sectional study in a dry-alkaline battery plant in Belgium revealed subclinical neurobehavioral dysfunctions associated with inhalation exposure to manganese dioxide (MnO2) particulate. The overall geometric mean of the time-weighted average concentration of manganese (Mn) in "total" dust (MnT) amounted, at that time, to 1 mg Mn/m3 and the duration of exposure was 5.5 years on average. An 8-year longitudinal investigation was conducted in this cohort (n = 92) in order to find out whether early effects on eye-hand coordination (EHC), hand steadiness (HST), and simple visual reaction time (VRT) were reversible when the airborne manganese concentration at the workplace was abated. During the observation period from 1988 to 1995, MnT monitoring was implemented on a monthly basis producing more than 1300 personal air samples, EHC tests were given yearly to assess the precision of the hand-forearm movement (PN1), and HST and VRT tests were carried out yearly since 1991. By the end of the study, the cohort size had dropped to 34 subjects. The model of unbalanced repeated measurements with unstructured covariance matrix and a time-varying covariate (log MnT) was the most appropriate to analyze the data. Wald chi 2 statistic was used for testing time-trends. The reduction of MnT over time was significantly associated with an improvement of the PN1 values (total cohort: Wald chi 2 = 8.5, p = 0.004; beta log MnT = -6.098 +/- 2.096). Like in the total cohort, time-trends were also found in the three exposure subgroups which could be identified in the cohort (average MnT over 1987-1992 were about 400, 600, and 2000 micrograms Mn/m3 for the low, medium, and high exposure subgroups, respectively). Only in the low exposure subgroup the PN1 value normalized when MnT (provisional estimates) decreased from about 400 to 130 micrograms Mn/m3 by the end of the study. Solely the reduction in MnT explained these findings on PN1, while a "healthy-worker-effect" mechanism was unlikely to have operated. The prognosis for the medium and high exposure subgroups remains uncertain as the improvement of their EHC performance may have been affected by past MnO2 exposure to such an extent that the persistence of a partial loss of EHC ability is suggested. The time courses of the HST and VRT test results, however, indicated the absence of any improvement, suggesting irreversible impairment of hand stability (postural tremor) and simple visual reaction time. A separate examination in a group of 39 control subjects, re-tested 10 years after the first test in 1987, virtually precluded age as confounding factor in this prospective study. The findings of the longitudinal study are corroborated by the outcome of a separate follow-up study in a group of 24 ex-Mn employees, who showed in 1996 a significant improvement of eye-hand coordination after at least three years with no MnO2 exposure; as to HST and VRT, there was no significant change in the deficit of these two neurobehavioral markers.

Adult↗