Influence of environmental lead on membrane ion transport in a French urban male population

• Published in: Environmental research 1990-12, Vol.53 (2), p.105-118
• Main Authors: Hajem, Said, Moreau, Thierry, Hannaert, Patrick, Lellouch, Joseph, Huel, Guy, Hellier, Georgette, Orssaud, Genevieve, Claude, Jean R., Juguet, Bernard, Festy, Bernard, Garay, Ricardo P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology; ACID ANHYDRASES; Adult; Age Factors; Alcohol Drinking; ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS; ANIMALS; ATP-ASE; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; Biological Transport, Active; BLOOD; BLOOD CELLS; Blood Pressure - drug effects; BODY; BODY FLUIDS; CELL CONSTITUENTS; CELL MEMBRANES; ELEMENTS; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE; Environmental pollutants toxicology; ENZYMES; Erythrocyte Membrane - drug effects; Erythrocyte Membrane - enzymology; ERYTHROCYTES; EUROPE; FRANCE; General aspects; HAIR; Hair - chemistry; Humans; HYDROLASES; Ion Channels - drug effects; LEAD; Lead - adverse effects; Lead - analysis; Lead - blood; Male; MAMMALS; MAN; MATERIALS; Medical sciences; MEMBRANE TRANSPORT; MEMBRANES; METABOLISM; METALS; Middle Aged; ORGANS; Paris; PERMEABILITY; PHOSPHOHYDROLASES; Potassium Channels - drug effects; POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS; PRIMATES; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; SKIN; Smoking; Sodium Channels - drug effects; SODIUM COMPOUNDS; TOXICITY; Toxicology; URBAN AREAS; Urban Population; VERTEBRATES; WESTERN EUROPE
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80113-6

Red cell cation transports (Na + K + pump, Na + K + cotransport system, Na + Li + countertransport, and Na + and K + passive permeabilities) and blood and hair lead levels were measured in 129 healthy adult Caucasians not occupationally exposed to lead. In agreement with previously reported in vitro results showing a lead-induced Na + K + ATPase inhibition, Na + K + pump activity was inversely correlated with hair lead ( r = −0.18, P < 0.05); it was not significantly correlated with blood lead. Na + K + cotransport activity was inversely correlated with blood lead contents ( r = −0.23, P < 0.05) but not with hair lead. No significant correlation was found between the remaining cation transport pathways and lead levels. It is hypothesized that environmental, long-term exposure to lead may result in pump inhibition, while a recent exposition to lead may result in inhibition of the Na + K + cotransport system. Further research is required in order to determine if red cell Na + K + pump and Na + K + cotransport activities are sensitive indicators of chronic and recent exposures to lead, respectively.