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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
[Application of metallothionein gene isoforms expression as biomarkers in cadmium exposure]
Xiu-li Chang1, Tai-yi Jin, Liang Chen
1Department of Occupation Health, Public Health School of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Objective:
To investigate the feasibility of metallothionein (MT) gene expression level in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs) as a biomarker in cadmium exposure.
Methods:
The MT gene expression level in HPBLs of workers exposed to cadmium was examined using RT-PCR technique, and the exposure assessment and effect assessment were conducted in exposed workers.
Results:
The basal MT-1A, IE, IF, IX and MT-2A expression level in workers exposed to cadmium were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The basal MT-1A, IE, IF, IX and MT-2A expression level would be significantly increased with the increase of the blood cadmium (BCd) level (P < 0.05). There was a trend of increase for the mRNA expression of the basal MT-1A, 1E, IF, IX, MT-2A, especially for the mRNA expression of MT-1A and MT-2A (P < 0.05) with the increase of the level of the urine cadmium (UCd). There was a good dose-response relationship between basal MT-1A expression and UCd. The basal MT-1A, IE, IF, IX and MT-2A expression level were significantly correlated with BCd (P < 0.05) while the basal MT-1A, IF and MT-2A expression level were significantly correlated with UCd (P < 0.05). There were dose-effect relationships of BCd to the basal MT-1E, MT-1F, MT-1X and MT-2X expression level respectively and there were also dose-effect relationships of UCd, beta(2)-MG and the urine metallothionein to the basal MT-1A expression.
Conclusion:
The expression of the MT gene isoforms in HPBLs can serve as the biomarker for the cadmium exposure and MT-1A can also serve as the effective biomarkers for the cadmium-induced renal toxicity.