Metabolomic Alteration in the Plasma of Wild Rodents Environmentally Exposed to Lead: A Preliminary Study

Hokuto Nakata, Akifumi Eguchi, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, John Yabe, Kaampwe Muzandu, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Chisato Mori and Mayumi Ishizuka
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Hokuto Nakata: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
Akifumi Eguchi: Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Inage-ku Yayoi-cho 1-33, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Shouta M. M. Nakayama: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
John Yabe: School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Kaampwe Muzandu: School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Yoshinori Ikenaka: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
Chisato Mori: Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Inage-ku Yayoi-cho 1-33, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Mayumi Ishizuka: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Lead poisoning is often considered a traditional disease; however, the specific mechanism of toxicity remains unclear. The study of Pb-induced alterations in cellular metabolic pathways is important to understand the biological response and disorders associated with environmental exposure to lead. Metabolomics studies have recently been paid considerable attention to understand in detail the biological response to lead exposure and the associated toxicity mechanisms. In the present study, wild rodents collected from an area contaminated with lead (N = 18) and a control area (N = 10) were investigated. This was the first ever experimental metabolomic study of wildlife exposed to lead in the field. While the levels of plasma phenylalanine and isoleucine were significantly higher in a lead-contaminated area versus the control area, hydroxybutyric acid was marginally significantly higher in the contaminated area, suggesting the possibility of enhancement of lipid metabolism. In the interregional least-absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression model analysis, phenylalanine and isoleucine were identified as possible biomarkers, which is in agreement with the random forest model. In addition, in the random forest model, glutaric acid, glutamine, and hydroxybutyric acid were selected. In agreement with previous studies, enrichment analysis showed alterations in the urea cycle and ATP-binding cassette transporter pathways. Although regional rodent species bias was observed in this study, and the relatively small sample size should be taken into account, the present results are to some extent consistent with those of previous studies on humans and laboratory animals.

Keywords: lead; metabolomics; wild rodent; mining; biomarker; biological pathway; lasso regression model; random forest model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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