HUMAN LYMPHOCYTE HEME-OXYGENASE-1 AS A RESPONSE BIOMARKER TO INORGANIC ARSENIC

We propose the use of human lymphocyte heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) as a bio marker of response to environmental arsenic exposure. We report the in duction of HO1 in human lymphoblastoid cells (LBs) by arsenite in a do se-related manner, HO1 was identified by SDS-PAGE from its molecular w eight and from its detection by Western blotting with anti-HO1. HO1 le vels in LBs treated with arsenite increased by de novo synthesis as de monstrated by incorporation of S-35-methionine and by inhibition of HO 1 synthesis by actinomycin D. The amount of HO1 in LBs was estimated b y quantifying Western blots. HO1 was also induced by 10 mu M cadmium o r mercuric chloride. We suggest that circulating lymphocyte HO1 levels may be useful in assessing the biological activity of arsenic exposur e in vivo under properly controlled conditions of simultaneous urinaly sis for arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, (C) 1998 Academic Press.