Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2064228 
Journal Article 
A dose-response study of arsenic exposure and global methylation of peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA in Bangladeshi adults 
Niedzwiecki, MM; Hall, MN; Liu, X; Oka, J; Harper, KN; Slavkovich, V; Ilievski, V; Levy, D; van Geen, A; Mey, JL; Alam, S; Siddique, AB; Parvez, F; Graziano, JH; Gamble, MV 
2013 
Yes 
Environmental Health Perspectives
ISSN: 0091-6765
EISSN: 1552-9924 
121 
11-12 
1306-1312 
English 
BACKGROUND: Several studies employing cell culture and animal models suggest that arsenic (As) exposure induces global DNA hypomethylation. However, As has been associated with global DNA hypermethylation in human study populations. It has been hypothesized that this discrepancy may reflect a non-linear relationship between As dose and DNA methylation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the dose-response relationship between As and global methylation of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) DNA in apparently healthy Bangladeshi adults chronically exposed to a wide range of As concentrations in drinking water.

METHODS: Global PBMC DNA methylation, plasma folate, blood S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and concentrations of As in drinking water, blood, and urine were measured in 320 adults. DNA methylation was measured using the [(3)H]-methyl incorporation assay, which provides disintegration per minute (DPM) values that are negatively associated with global DNA methylation.

RESULTS: Water, blood, and urinary As were positively correlated with global PBMC DNA methylation (P < 0.05). In multivariable adjusted models, 1-µg/L increases in water and urinary As were associated with 27.6 unit (95% CI, 6.3 to 49.0) and 22.1 unit (95% CI, 0.5 to 43.8) decreases in DPM per µg DNA, respectively. Categorical models indicated that estimated mean levels of PBMC DNA methylation were highest in participants with the highest As exposures.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that As is positively associated with global methylation of PBMC DNA over a wide range of drinking water As concentrations. Further research is necessary to elucidate underlying mechanisms and physiologic implications.  
IRIS
• Arsenic (Inorganic)
     1. Literature
          Lit search updates through Oct 2015
     3. Hazard ID Screening
          Other potentially supporting studies
     4. Adverse Outcome Pathways/Networks Screening
          Relevant
     5. Susceptibility Screening
          Excluded/Not relevant
• Arsenic MOA
     4. Adverse Outcome Pathways
          Epigenetic mechanisms
     1. MOA Literature Screening
          Health Effect Screening
          Susceptibility Screening
• Arsenic Susceptibility
     5. Health Effect
          Not Relevant
     1. Susceptibility Literature Screening
          Keyword Search
     2. Excluded
          MOA/Mechanistic
     3. References Identified During Review
     Life Stages Citation Mapping
          Top 5%
• Inorganic Arsenic (7440-38-2) [Final 2025]
          PubMed
          Considered New
          PubMed
          Considered New
          WOS
          Considered New
          WOS
          Considered New
          WOS
          Excluded
               WOS Duplicates
     2. Lit Search Updates through Oct 2015
          PubMed
          WOS
          Considered
     7. Other Studies through Oct 2015
          MOA