Persistent organic pollutants distribution in lipoprotein fractions in relation to cardiovascular disease and cancer

• Published in: Environment international 2014-04, Vol.65, p.93-99
• Main Authors: Ljunggren, Stefan A., Helmfrid, Ingela, Salihovic, Samira, van Bavel, Bert, Wingren, Gun, Lindahl, Mats, Karlsson, Helen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aryldialkylphosphatase - blood; Aryldialkylphosphatase - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins - chemistry; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miljökemi; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Neoplasms - blood; Paraoxonase-1; Persistent organic pollutants; Principal Component Analysis; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Toxicology; Tumors; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.12.017

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are lipophilic environmental toxins that have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of POPs in human high and low/very low-density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL/VLDL) and the possible association with CVD and cancer occurrence in individuals living in a contaminated area. Lipoproteins from 28 individuals (7 healthy controls, 8 subjects with cancer, 13 subjects with CVD) were isolated and the fraction-specific concentration of 20 different POPs was analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry. The activity of Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an anti-oxidant in HDL, was determined in plasma of these 28 subjects and additional 50 subjects from the same area excluding diseases other than cancer or CVD. Fourteen polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and three organochlorine pesticides were detected, and especially highly chlorinated PCBs were enriched in lipoproteins. Significantly higher concentrations of POPs were found among individuals with CVD or cancer compared to controls. Principal component analyses showed that POP concentrations in HDL were more associated with CVD, while POP concentrations in LDL/VLDL were more associated with cancer. PON1 activity was negatively correlated to sumPCB and a co-variation between decreased arylesterase-activity, increased PCB concentrations and CVD was found. This study shows that POPs are present in lipoproteins and were more abundant in individuals with CVD or cancer compared to healthy controls. The results also indicate that PCB exposure is accompanied by reduced PON1 activity that could impair the HDL function to protect against oxidation. Left panels: Higher concentrations of PCBs and OCPs in HDL from subjects with CVD and cancer than healthy controls. Upper right panel: Enrichment of highly chlorinated PCB congeners in HDL. Lower right panel: Less activity of the HDL anti-oxidant enzyme PON1 in subjects with high PCB concentrations than in subjects with low PCB concentrations. [Display omitted] •Higher POP concentrations in subjects with CVD or cancer compared to healthy controls.•Association between high PCB concentrations in HDL and CVD.•Association between high PCB concentrations in LDL and cancer.•PCB concentration and PON1 activity are inversely correlated in subjects with CVD.