Objective: To observe the oxidative stress and skin disease related genes expression in cells exfoliated from buccal mucous and blood in patients with arseniasis caused by coal-burning pollution in Guizhou.
Methods: Buccal and blood cell samples were collected from arsenicosis patients and healthy subjects residing in Guizhou. Total RNA was isolated for related genetic transcript analysis. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the change of related gene expression. Serum indicators of liver injury, such as serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), were detected.
Results: Serum levels of ALT in arsenic patients were significantly higher than those in controls (36.9 +/- 17.4 / 25.8 +/- 2.4, t = 0.019, P < 0.05) even when no symptom was found in these patients. Buccal K10 gene was overexpressed (3.6 +/- 0.9 / 1.8 +/- 0.7, t = 0.041, P < 0.05) and MT-1 expression was significantly lower (0.8 +/- 0.5 / 3.9 +/- 0.4, t = 0.028, P < 0.05) in arsenic patients than that in control while the expressions of other genes were the same as those of controls.
Conclusion: The expressions of MT-1 and K10 gene in buccal mucous cells may be regarded as sensitive molecular markers for skin and hepatic pathologic changes in arsenic patients. Protection of liver function should be considered as an important step in arseniasis prevention and control.