Apoptosis in arsenic trioxide-treated Calu-6 lung cells is correlated with the depletion of GSH levels rather than the changes of ROS levels

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) can regulate many biological functions such as apoptosis and differentiation in various cells. We investigated an involvement of ROS such as H(2)O(2) and O(2)(*-), and GSH in ATO-treated Calu-6 cell death. The levels of intracellular H(2)O(2) were decreased in ATO-treated Calu-6 cells at 72 h. However, the levels of O(2)(*-) were significantly increased. ATO reduced the intracellular GSH content. Many of the cells having depleted GSH contents were dead, as evidenced by the propidium iodine staining. The activity of CuZn-SOD was strongly down-regulated by ATO at 72 h while the activity of Mn-SOD was weakly up-regulated. The activity of catalase was decreased by ATO. ROS scavengers, Tiron and Trimetazidine did not reduce levels of apoptosis and intracellular O(2)(*-) in ATO-treated Calu-6 cells. Tempol showing a decrease in intracellular O(2)(*-) levels reduced the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). Treatment with NAC showing the recovery of GSH depletion and the decreased effect on O(2)(*-) levels in ATO-treated cells significantly inhibited apoptosis. In addition, BSO significantly increased the depletion of GSH content and apoptosis in ATO-treated cells. Treatment with SOD and catalase significantly reduced the levels of O(2)(*-) levels in ATO-treated cells, but did not inhibit apoptosis along with non-effect on the recovery of GSH depletion. Taken together, our results suggest that ATO induces apoptosis in Calu-6 cells via the depletion of the intracellular GSH contents rather than the changes of ROS levels.     

好氧反硝化菌脱氮特性研究进展

好氧反硝化菌的发现,是对传统反硝化理论的丰富与突破. 由于其在脱氮方面的独特优势,已成为目前废水生物脱氮领域研究的热点. 好氧反硝化菌能够在有氧条件下,利用有机碳源生长的同时将含氮化合物反硝化生成N2等气态氮化物,多数还能同时进行异养硝化作用,将铵态氮直接转化为含氮气体. 本文从电子理论、反硝化酶系等方面对目前已分离出的一些好氧反硝化菌的脱氮特性及其脱氮机理进行探讨,分析了溶解氧、碳源类型及C/N等环境条件对其脱氮作用的影响,介绍了好氧反硝化菌的筛选方法及应用现状,对其应用前景和发展方向进行了展望.     

好气条件下不同形态外源砷在土壤中的转化

在35%的田间持水量下,通过模拟试验研究了外源二甲基砷酸盐（DMA）、一甲基砷酸盐（MMA）、五价无机砷［As(V)］在土壤中的形态转化.结果表明: 外源砷进入土壤后,其含量均有随时间推延而逐渐下降的趋势,两种不同形态的有机砷DMA和MMA在土壤中主要发生脱甲基化过程,经150 d的恒温恒湿培养,其在土壤中主要转化为As(V),DMA处理仅在120 d时检测到少量MMA,而MMA处理则在7～60 d内均有少量的DMA生成.培养结束时土壤中DMA和MMA含量均显著降低(P<0.01),降幅分别为99.5%、94.3%,而两者的主要转化产物As(V)的含量则分别显著增加了4.61和5.15倍.表明外源有机态砷在土壤中基本上被转化为无机形态;与有机态外源砷相比,外源As(V)进入土壤后其形态基本上没有发生转化.     

Human health risk assessment of arsenic in groundwater aquifers of Lahore,Pakistan

The present study was conducted to estimate As concentration in groundwater and resulting human health risk in terms of chronic daily intake, hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk (CR) both for oral and dermal exposure to As. Groundwater samples (n = 100) were collected from ten different towns of Lahore District (Pakistan). Arsenic concentration ranged from 2 to 111 µg L^?1 in groundwater samples of the study area, which was significantly greater than the safe limit of As (10 µg L^?1) in drinking water set by the World Health Organization. Health risk assessment of As showed that HQ (0.1–11) for oral exposure and HI (0.1–11) values also exceeded the typical toxic risk index value of 1. 9.75 × E-05–4.59 × E-03 and 5.89 × E-07–2.77 × E-05 for oral and dermal As exposure, respectively. Both CR and cancer index (CIs) values were higher than United States Environmental Protection Agency limit (10^?6), suggesting that people are at high risk of As-induced carcinogenicity from oral and dermal exposure to As in drinking water. It was concluded that As contamination of groundwater causes carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health effects to the people; therefore, urgent management and remedial actions are required to protect people from As poisoning.     

A comparison study between previous and current shoreline concentrations of heavy metals at the Great Salt Lake using portable X-ray fluorescence analysis

The Great Salt Lake has been gradually desiccating, increasing the amount of exposed lakebed and potentially exposing heavy metals that may be present in the lakebed soil and sediments. It is hypothesized that there is a statistically significant difference between the current and previous shorelines, with the highest concentrations being at the current shoreline. This study used systematic sampling to collect 32 samples from the current shoreline and previous shorelines (elevation of 1281 and 1282 m, respectively) for a total of 64 samples. All samples underwent X-ray fluorescence analysis to quantify heavy metal concentrations. Nearly all samples contained arsenic (highest concentrations near the current shoreline). The majority of samples (80%) showed mercury levels below the limit of detection (LOD). A statistically significant difference in heavy metal concentrations between the two locations for arsenic, zinc, iron, manganese, rubidium, zirconium, and strontium was found. In addition, it was determined that the relationship between sample size (the number of values above the LOD) and location was statistically significant for mercury, selenium, lead, nickel, copper, manganese, zirconium, and thorium. Further research quantifying heavy metal concentrations in other parts of the Great Salt Lake and the potential for airborne exposures should be conducted.     

Aberrant methylation of nucleotide excision repair genes is associated with chronic arsenic poisoning

Objective: To define whether aberrant methylation of DNA repair genes is associated with chronic arsenic poisoning.

Methods: Hundred and two endemic arsenicosis patients and 36 healthy subjects were recruited. Methylight and bisulfite sequencing (BSP) assays were used to examine the methylation status of ERCC1, ERCC2 and XPC genes in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and skin lesions of arsenicosis patients and NaAsO₂-treated HaCaT cells.

Results: Hypermethylation of ERCC1 and ERCC2 and suppressed gene expression were found in PBLs and skin lesions of arsenicosis patients and was correlated with the level of arsenic exposure. Particularly, the expression of ERCC1 and ERCC2 was associated with the severity of skin lesions. In vitro studies revealed an induction of ERCC2 hypermethylation and decreased mRNA expression in response to NaAsO₂ treatment.

Conclusion: Hypermethylation of ERCC1 and ERCC2 and concomitant suppression of gene expression might be served as the epigenetic marks associated with arsenic exposure and adverse health effects.     

Phosphate-assisted phytoremediation of arsenic by Brassica napus and Brassica juncea: Morphological and physiological response

In this study, we examined the potential role of phosphate (P; 0, 50, 100 mg kg^?1) on growth, gas exchange attributes, and photosynthetic pigments of Brassica napus and Brassica juncea under arsenic (As) stress (0, 25, 50, 75 mg kg^?1) in a pot experiment. Results revealed that phosphate supplementation (P100) to As-stressed plants significantly increased shoot As concentration, dry biomass yield, and As uptake, in addition to the improved morphological and gas exchange attributes and photosynthetic pigments over P0. However, phosphate-assisted increase in As uptake was substantially (up to two times) greater for B. napus, notably due to higher shoot As concentration and dry biomass yield, compared to B. juncea at the P100 level. While phosphate addition in soil (P100) led to enhanced shoot As concentration in B. juncea, it reduced shoot dry biomass, primarily after 50 and 75 mg kg^?1 As treatments. The translocation factor and bioconcentration factor values of B. napus were higher than B. juncea for all As levels in the presence of phosphate. This study demonstrates that phosphate supplementation has a potential to improve As phytoextraction efficiency, predominantly for B. napus, by minimizing As-induced damage to plant growth, as well as by improving the physiological and photosynthetic attributes.