Related Experiment Videos
Association between arsenic exposure and soluble thrombomodulin: A cross sectional study in Bangladesh
M M Hasibuzzaman1, Shakhawoat Hossain1, Md Shofikul Islam1,2
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Insights
Chronic arsenic exposure is linked to higher levels of soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), a marker of endothelial dysfunction, suggesting it may indicate early cardiovascular disease risk. This study highlights sTM as a potential biomarker for arsenic-related cardiovascular issues.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Cardiovascular Science
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Chronic arsenic exposure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality.
- The precise mechanisms and early predictive biomarkers for arsenic-related CVD remain unclear.
- Endothelial dysfunction is a critical factor in CVD development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between chronic arsenic exposure and serum soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) levels.
- To explore sTM as a potential early biomarker for arsenic-induced endothelial damage and CVD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 321 subjects from arsenic-endemic and non-endemic areas in Bangladesh.
- Measurement of arsenic levels in drinking water, hair, and nails using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy.
- Quantification of serum sTM levels using an immunoassay kit.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher average sTM levels were observed in subjects from arsenic-endemic areas compared to non-endemic areas (4.58 vs. 2.84 ng/mL, p<0.001).
- Arsenic exposure levels (water, hair, nail) showed significant positive correlations with sTM levels (rs = 0.308–0.352, p<0.001).
- Elevated sTM levels were negatively correlated with HDL-C and positively correlated with ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.
Conclusions:
- Chronic arsenic exposure is associated with increased serum sTM levels, indicating endothelial damage or dysfunction.
- sTM may serve as a valuable, specific biomarker for early detection of arsenic-related cardiovascular risks.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the full clinical implications of these findings.
Abstract:
Chronic exposure to arsenic is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, plausible biomarker for early prediction and the underlying mechanism of arsenic-related CVD have not yet been clearly understood. Endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the development of CVD. We hypothesized that endothelial damage or dysfunction is an important aspect and may be an early event of arsenic-related CVD. Soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) in serum is thought to be a specific and stable marker for endothelial damage or dysfunction. This study was designed to evaluate the association between chronic exposure to arsenic and sTM among human subjects in arsenic-endemic and non-endemic rural areas in Bangladesh. A total of 321 study subjects (217 from arsenic-endemic areas and 104 from a non-endemic area) were recruited. Subjects' arsenic exposure levels (i.e., drinking water, hair and nail arsenic concentrations) were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy. The subjects' serum sTM levels were quantified by immunoassay kit. The average sTM levels of the subjects in arsenic-endemic and non-endemic areas were 4.58 ± 2.20 and 2.84 ± 1.29 (ng mL-1) respectively, and the difference was significant (p<0.001). Arsenic exposure levels showed a significant (water arsenic: rs = 0.339, p<0.001, hair arsenic: rs = 0.352, p<0.001 and nail arsenic: rs = 0.308, p<0.001) positive associations with sTM levels. Soluble TM levels were higher in the higher exposure gradients if we stratified the subjects into tertile groups (low, medium and high) based on the arsenic concentrations of the subjects' drinking water, hair and nails. Finally, increased levels of sTM were negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and positively correlated with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Results of this study show that chronic exposure to arsenic has mild to moderate association with sTM levels.