Relationship between the esterase paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and metal concentrations in the whole blood of Inuit in Canada. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Laird, Brian D.; Goncharov, Alexey B.; Ayotte, Pierre; Chan, Hing Man
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 120(2015)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 485
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: BMI body mass index -- HDL high-density lipoprotein -- IPY International Polar Year -- PON1 Paraoxonase-1 -- POPs persistent organic pollutants -- VIF variance inflation factor; Cross-sectional -- Contaminant -- Biochemical effect -- Traditional food -- Smoking; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.08.073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Highlights: Blood was collected from 2172 Inuit adults for contaminant biomonitoring. Levels of Cd, Se, Pb, and Hg were measured in whole blood. Serum activity of paraoxonase-1 (PON1) was measured. Multiple regression showed that Se was positively associated with PON1. Cd exposure via smoking was negatively associated with PON1. Abstract: The esterase paraoxonase (PON1), a major component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), protects against the development of atherosclerosis in humans. Although variation in PON1 activity is primarily governed by PON1 genotype, there is growing evidence that environmental chemicals may also modulate its activity. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether environmental exposure to various metals is associated with PON1 activity in Inuit people routinely exposed to mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and (Se) selenium. PON1 activity and metal concentrations were measured in blood collected from 2172 healthy participants. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle variables were also assessed. The associations between PON1 activity and blood metal concentrations, HDL, omega-3 fatty acid blood levels, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and lifestyle habits (e.g. smoking and alcohol consumption) were explored via multiple linear regression. PON1 activity was positively associated with Se blood concentration ( β = 0.056, P = 0.001) but was negatively associated with Cd blood concentration ( β = −0.025, P < 0.001). No association was observed between PON1 activity and Hg or Pb blood concentrations. Our results suggest that: PON1 activity is modulated by metal exposure, and Inuit traditional foods may confer health benefit by increasing PON1 activity via higher Se intakes. These findings underline that current environmental metal exposures among Inuit living in the Canadian Arctic are associated with paraoxonase activity, a toxicologically-relevant biochemical parameter.