Relationship between rationed X receptor α mRNA expression in blood and skin lesion of residents exposed to arsenic via drinking water / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To detect retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) mRNA expression in blood of subjects exposed to different concentrations of arsenic via drinking water, to analyze the relationship between RXRα mRNA expression and skin lesion caused by arsenic,and further to explore the skin lesion mechanism of arsenic. Methods Study sites were selected by molecular epidemiology method from high arsenic drinking water area of Bayannur City. Two hundred and thirty-five subjects who had been lived in high arsenic area for more than 10 years were selected;blood samples and water samples were collected from the subjects; according to arsenic concentration in drinking water,they were divided into four groups,<10 μg/L(control group),10-<100 μg/L(low dose group),100- <200 μg/L (middle dose group), and ≥200 μg/L (high dose group). Skin hyperkeratosis and pigment abnormity examination were conducted. The RXRα mRNA expression level in blood samples was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, and then the relationship between expression of RXRα mRNA and different levels of arsenic exposure,and skin lesion induced by arsenic were analyzed. Results ①The results showed that there was a dose-effect relationship between the prevalence of hyperkeratosis, pigment abnormity and arsenic exposure (χ2= 14.597, 12.825, P < 0.05); ②With increasing of arsenic exposure, RXRα mRNA expression in blood decreased firstly and then increased (F = 8.312, P < 0.05), which were significantly different statistically from those of control [(1.20 ±0.53)×10-3]and low dose groups[(0.92 ± 0.49)×10-3,P<0.05];RXRα expression was significantly higher in high dose group[(1.40 ± 0.45)×10-3]than those of middle and low dose groups [(1.12 ± 0.58,0.92 ± 0.49)×10-3,P<0.05]; ③The RXRα mRNA expression in people with different level of skin damage (hyper keratosis and pigment abnormity)were statistically significant(F=4.206,4.389, P< 0.05); degree Ⅲ[(1.98 ± 0.38) × 10-3] hyperkeratosis patients compared with degree Ⅰ [(1.11 ± 0.52) × 10-3] and degree Ⅱ [(1.13 ± 0.42) × 10-3], RXRα mRNA expression was significantly different (P < 0.05), degree Ⅱ and higher degrees [(1.61 ± 0.54) × 10 -3] pigment abnormity patients compared with control [(1.15 ± 0.52)×10-3],RXRα mRNA expression was significantly different (P < 0.05). Conclusions Chronic arsenic exposure has an effect on RXRα mRNA expression in blood. There is a relationship between abnormal expression of RXRα mRNA and skin lesion induced by arsenic.