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Ma M, Wang R, Xu L, Xu M, Liu S. Emerging health risks and underlying toxicological mechanisms of uranium contamination: Lessons from the past two decades. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 145:106107. [PMID: 32932066 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Uranium contamination is a global health concern. Regarding natural or anthropogenic uranium contamination, the major sources of concern are groundwater, mining, phosphate fertilizers, nuclear facilities, and military activities. Many epidemiological and laboratory studies have demonstrated that environmental and occupational uranium exposure can induce multifarious health problems. Uranium exposure may cause health risks because of its chemotoxicity and radiotoxicity in natural or anthropogenic scenarios: the former is generally thought to play a more significant role with regard to the natural uranium exposure, and the latter is more relevant to enriched uranium exposure. The understanding of the health risks and underlying toxicological mechanisms of uranium remains at a preliminary stage, and many controversial findings require further research. In order to present state-of-the-art status in this field, this review will primarily focus on the chemotoxicity of uranium, rather than its radiotoxicity, as well as the involved toxicological mechanisms. First, the natural or anthropogenic uranium contamination scenarios will be briefly summarized. Second, the health risks upon natural uranium exposure, for example, nephrotoxicity, bone toxicity, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and pulmonary toxicity, will be discussed based on the reported epidemiological cases and laboratory studies. Third, the recent advances regarding the toxicological mechanisms of uranium-induced chemotoxicity will be highlighted, including oxidative stress, genetic damage, protein impairment, inflammation, and metabolic disorder. Finally, the gaps and challenges in the knowledge of uranium-induced chemotoxicity and underlying mechanisms will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruixia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lining Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Sijin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Campos A, Pereira R, Vaz A, Caetano T, Malta M, Oliveira J, Carvalho FP, Mendo S, Lourenço J. Metals and low dose IR: Molecular effects of combined exposures using HepG2 cells as a biological model. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 396:122634. [PMID: 32304850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Uranium mining sites produce residues rich in metals and radionuclides, that may contaminate all environmental matrices, exposing human and non-human biota to low doses of ionizing radiation (LDIR) and to the chemical toxicity of several metals. To date, experimental and radio-epidemiological studies do not provide conclusive evidence of LDIR induced cancer. However, co-exposures (LDIR plus other contaminants), may increase the risks. To determine the potential for genotoxic effects in human cells induced by the exposure to LDIR plus metals, HEPG2 cells were exposed to different concentrations of a uranium mine effluent for 96 h. DNA damage was evaluated using the comet assay and changes in the expression of tumor suppressor and oncogenes were determined using qPCR. Results show that effluent concentrations higher than 5%, induce significant DNA damage. Also, a significant under-expression of ATM and TP53 genes and a significant overexpression of GADD45a gene was observed. Results show that the exposure to complex mixtures cannot be disregarded, as effects were detected at very low doses. This study highlights the need for further studies to clarify the risks of exposure to LDIR along with other stressors, to fully review the IR exposure risk limits established for human and non-human biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Campos
- ICBAS & Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - R Pereira
- ICBAS & Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal; GreenUPorto- Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Centre, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
| | - A Vaz
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - T Caetano
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - M Malta
- Instituto Superior Técnico/Laboratório de Proteccão e Segurança Radiológica, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal.
| | - J Oliveira
- Instituto Superior Técnico/Laboratório de Proteccão e Segurança Radiológica, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal.
| | - F P Carvalho
- Instituto Superior Técnico/Laboratório de Proteccão e Segurança Radiológica, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal.
| | - S Mendo
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - J Lourenço
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
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Shaki F, Zamani E, Arjmand A, Pourahmad J. A Review on Toxicodynamics of Depleted Uranium. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH : IJPR 2019; 18:90-100. [PMID: 32802091 PMCID: PMC7393059 DOI: 10.22037/ijpr.2020.113045.14085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Depleted uranium (DU) is an important by product in uranium enrichment process. Due to its applications in civilian and also military activity, DU emerged as environmental pollutant. The exposure to DU can occur via external or internal pathways. In external exposure, mainly beta radiation from the decay products contributes to DU toxicity. Internal exposure to DU is more important and can occur through ingestion of DU-contaminated water and food and inhalation of DU aerosols. There is limited information about health effects and mechanism of DU after environmental exposure. Kidney is reported as the main target organ for the chemical toxicity of this metal that was reported in Persian Gulf syndrome. Alterations in behavior, some neurologic adverse effects, immunotoxicity, embryo-toxicity and hepatotoxicity were observed in chronic exposure to DU. Also, the increased risk of cancer was revealed in epidemiological and experimental studies. Several mechanisms were suggested for DU toxicity such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial toxicity and inflammation. In fact, uranium like other toxic heavy metals can induce oxidative damage and apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway and inflammatory response. In this review, we have discussed the kinetic of DU including source and exposure pathway. In addition, the health effects of DU and also its toxic mechanism have been highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Shaki
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Ehsan Zamani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
| | - Abdollah Arjmand
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Jalal Pourahmad
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Corresponding author: E-mail:
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Asic A, Kurtovic-Kozaric A, Besic L, Mehinovic L, Hasic A, Kozaric M, Hukic M, Marjanovic D. Chemical toxicity and radioactivity of depleted uranium: The evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 156:665-673. [PMID: 28472753 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The main aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the current state of knowledge on chemical toxicity and radioactivity of depleted uranium (DU) and their effect on living systems and cell lines. This was done by presenting a summary of previous investigations conducted on different mammalian body systems and cell cultures in terms of potential changes caused by either chemical toxicity or radioactivity of DU. In addition, the authors aimed to point out the limitations of those studies and possible future directions. The majority of both in vitro and in vivo studies performed using animal models regarding possible effects caused by acute or chronic DU exposure has been reviewed. Furthermore, exposure time and dose, DU particle solubility, and uranium isotopes as factors affecting the extent of DU effects have been discussed. Special attention has been dedicated to chromosomal aberrations, DNA damage and DNA breaks, as well as micronuclei formation and epigenetic changes, as DU has recently been considered a possible causative factor of all these processes. Therefore, this approach might represent a novel area of study of DU-related irradiation effects on health. Since different studies offer contradictory results, the main aim of this review is to summarize and briefly discuss previously obtained results in order to identify the current opinion on DU toxicity and radioactivity effects in relation to exposure type and duration, as well as DU properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adna Asic
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb, Ilidza, 71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb, Ilidza, 71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Department of Pathology, Cytology and Human Genetics, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Bolnicka 25, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Department of Biology, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Larisa Besic
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb, Ilidza, 71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Lejla Mehinovic
- Department of Biology, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Azra Hasic
- Department of Biology, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mirza Kozaric
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb, Ilidza, 71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Department of Pathology, Cytology and Human Genetics, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Bolnicka 25, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mirsada Hukic
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb, Ilidza, 71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Academy of Sciences and Art of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bistrik 7, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Institute for Biomedical Diagnostics Nalaz, Hasana Brkica 2, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Damir Marjanovic
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb, Ilidza, 71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Institute for Anthropologic Research, Ljudevita Gaja 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 and DNA repair by uranium. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2015; 291:13-20. [PMID: 26627003 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2015.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Uranium has radiological and non-radiological effects within biological systems and there is increasing evidence for genotoxic and carcinogenic properties attributable to uranium through its heavy metal properties. In this study, we report that low concentrations of uranium (as uranyl acetate; <10 μM) is not cytotoxic to human embryonic kidney cells or normal human keratinocytes; however, uranium exacerbates DNA damage and cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that uranium may inhibit DNA repair processes. Concentrations of uranyl acetate in the low micromolar range inhibited the zinc finger DNA repair protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 and caused zinc loss from PARP-1 protein. Uranyl acetate exposure also led to zinc loss from the zinc finger DNA repair proteins Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Complementation Group A (XPA) and aprataxin (APTX). In keeping with the observed inhibition of zinc finger function of DNA repair proteins, exposure to uranyl acetate enhanced retention of induced DNA damage. Co-incubation of uranyl acetate with zinc largely overcame the impact of uranium on PARP-1 activity and DNA damage. These findings present evidence that low concentrations of uranium can inhibit DNA repair through disruption of zinc finger domains of specific target DNA repair proteins. This may provide a mechanistic basis to account for the published observations that uranium exposure is associated with DNA repair deficiency in exposed human populations.
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Liu F, Du KJ, Fang Z, You Y, Wen GB, Lin YW. Chemical and biological insights into uranium-induced apoptosis of rat hepatic cell line. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2015; 54:207-216. [PMID: 25636514 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-015-0588-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Uranium release into the environment is a threat to human health, and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity caused by uranium are not well-understood. To improve our understanding in this respect, we herein evaluated the effects of uranium exposure on normal rat hepatic BRL cells. As revealed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope analysis, uranyl nitrate was found to be transformed into uranyl phosphate particles in the medium and taken up by BRL cells in an endocytotic uptake manner, which presumably initiates apoptosis of the cell, although soluble uranyl ion may also be toxic. The apoptosis of BRL cells upon uranium exposure was also confirmed by both the acridine orange and ethidium bromide double staining assay and the Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining assay. Further studies revealed that uranium induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the uranium-induced apoptosis was found to be associated with the activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, indicating both a mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway and a death receptor pathway by a crosstalk. This study provides new chemical and biological insights into the mechanism of uranium toxicity toward hepatic cells, which will help seek approaches for biological remediation of uranium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular and Molecular Pathology, University of South China, College of Hunan Province, Hengyang, 421001, China
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Sun MH, Liu SQ, Du KJ, Nie CM, Lin YW. A spectroscopic study of uranyl-cytochrome b5/cytochrome c interactions. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2014; 118:130-137. [PMID: 24051281 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2013.08.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Uranium is harmful to human health due to its radiation damage and the ability of uranyl ion (UO2(2+)) to interact with various proteins and disturb their biological functions. Cytochrome b5 (cyt b5) is a highly negatively charged heme protein and plays a key role in mediating cytochrome c (cyt c) signaling in apoptosis by forming a dynamic cyt b5-cyt c complex. In previous molecular modeling study in combination with UV-Vis studies, we found that UO2(2+) is capable of binding to cyt b5 at surface residues, Glu37 and Glu43. In this study, we further investigated the structural consequences of cyt b5 and cyt c, as well as cyt b5-cyt c complex, upon uranyl binding, by fluorescence spectroscopic and circular dichroism techniques. Moreover, we proposed a uranyl binding site for cyt c at surface residues, Glu66 and Glu69, by performing a molecular modeling study. It was shown that uranyl binds to cyt b5 (KD=10 μM), cyt c (KD=87 μM), and cyt b5-cyt c complex (KD=30 μM) with a different affinity, which slightly alters the protein conformation and disturbs the interaction of cyt b5-cyt c complex. Additionally, we investigated the functional consequences of uranyl binding to the protein surface, which decreases the inherent peroxidase activity of cyt c. The information of uranyl-cyt b5/cyt c interactions gained in this study likely provides a clue for the mechanism of uranyl toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Hui Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
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Garmash SA, Smirnova VS, Karp OE, Usacheva AM, Berezhnov AV, Ivanov VE, Chernikov AV, Bruskov VI, Gudkov SV. Pro-oxidative, genotoxic and cytotoxic properties of uranyl ions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 127:163-170. [PMID: 23312590 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2011] [Revised: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/23/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
It is demonstrated that hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide are formed under the action of uranyl ions in aqueous solutions containing no reducing agents. In the presence of uranyl ions, formation of 8-oxoguanine in DNA and long-lived protein radicals are observed in vitro. It is shown that the pro-oxidant properties of uranyl at micromolar concentrations mostly result from the physico-chemical nature of the compound rather than its radioactive decay. Uranyl ions lead to damage in DNA and proteins causing death of HEp-2 cells by necrotic pathway. It is revealed that the uranyl ions enhance radiation-induced oxidative stress and significantly increase a death rate of mice exposed to sublethal doses of X-rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Garmash
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia; Pushchino State University, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia
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