Protective effects of plasma alpha-tocopherols on the risk of inorganic arsenic-related urothelial carcinoma

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2011-02, Vol.409 (6), p.1039-1045
• Main Authors: Chung, Chi-Jung, Pu, Yeong-Shiau, Chen, Ying-Ting, Su, Chien-Tien, Wu, Chia-Chang, Shiue, Horng-Sheng, Huang, Chao-Yuan, Hsueh, Yu-Mei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 8-OHdG; alpha-Tocopherol - metabolism; Antioxidants - metabolism; Arsenic; Arsenic - metabolism; Arsenic - toxicity; Arsenic - urine; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Carcinogens, Environmental - metabolism; Carcinogens, Environmental - toxicity; Carcinoma - epidemiology; Carcinoma - metabolism; Carcinoma - prevention & control; Case-Control Studies; Chemical agents; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Correlation; DNA Damage; Female; Guanine - analogs & derivatives; Guanine - metabolism; Guanine - urine; Humans; Indium arsenides; Linear Models; Liquid chromatography; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Plasma micronutrients; Polymethyl methacrylates; Protective; Risk; Risk Factors; Stresses; Toxicology; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary arsenic profiles; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Urologic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Urologic Neoplasms - metabolism; Urologic Neoplasms - prevention & control; Urothelial carcinoma
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.11.037

Arsenic plays an important role in producing oxidative stress in cultured cells. To investigate the interaction between high oxidative stress and low arsenic methylation capacity on arsenic carcinogenesis, a case–control study was conducted to evaluate the relationship among the indices of oxidative stress, such as urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyquanine (8-OHdG), as well as plasma micronutrients and urinary arsenic profiles on urothelial carcinoma (UC) risk. Urinary 8-OHdG was measured using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The urinary arsenic species were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and hydride generator-atomic absorption spectrometry. Plasma micronutrient levels were analyzed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The present study showed a significant protective effect of plasma alpha-tocopherol on UC risk. Plasma alpha-tocopherol levels were significantly inversely related to urinary total arsenic concentrations and inorganic arsenic percentage (InAs%), and significantly positively related to dimethylarsinic acid percentage (DMA%). There were no correlations between plasma micronutrients and urinary 8-OHdG. Study participants with lower alpha-tocopherol and higher urinary total arsenic, higher InAs%, higher MMA%, and lower DMA% had a higher UC risk than those with higher alpha-tocopherol and lower urinary total arsenic, lower InAs%, lower MMA%, and higher DMA%. These results suggest that plasma alpha-tocopherol might modify the risk of inorganic arsenic-related UC. ► Plasma alpha-tocopherol levels were significantly inversely related to UC risk. ► There were no correlations between plasma micronutrients and urinary 8-OHdG. ► People with lower alpha-tocopherol and higher total arsenic had increased UC risk.