The Effects of Heavy Metals on Human Metabolism

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 3965

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, Brazil
Interests: selenium; inorganic mercury; organic mercury; neurodevelopment
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Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Sul-rio-grandense (IFSul), Bagé 96418-400, RS, Brazil
Interests: docking molecular; in silico; selenium; mercury; DFT; putative metabolites

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Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
Interests: selenium; mercury; organochalcogens; thiols; oxidative stress

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Guest Editor
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA
Interests: manganese; mercury; neurotoxicity; neurodegeneration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The identification and characterization of metabolites are of paramount importance to many areas, such as biology, chemistry, pharmacology, biochemistry, medicine, and agriculture, among others. Many drugs are developed as prodrugs, which after intake are metabolized into pharmacologically active molecules. On the other hand, there are many molecules, inorganic metals, and metal-organic compounds that are administered (accidentally or not), and their active and/or putative metabolites are not characterized. Additionally, endogenous molecules are present in many metabolic/biochemical pathways, and their reactions, enzymes, and proteins involved need to be identified. The characterization of unstable metabolites is an analytical challenge, where many molecules are present only in situ, and their chemical structure cannot be determined using direct and classical methodologies. The development of in silico tools to predict drug metabolism (e.g., ADMET analysis) is essential for the design of biologically active molecules; however, some computational parameters need to be improved to avoid false-positive events, especially for metals. Cell-based assays, including 3D models and organs-on-chips, are essential in this area, and play an important role in preventing the unnecessary use of animal models and human volunteers. Thus, despite the scientific advancements in metabolomics in the last several decades, many studies lack a wide range of molecules. This Special Issue is devoted to the identification and characterization of heavy inorganic metals and metal-organic compounds and the putative effects of metabolites in humans health. 

Dr. Cláudia Sirlene Oliveira
Dr. Pablo Andrei Nogara
Prof. Dr. Joao Batista Teixeira Da Rocha
Prof. Dr. Michael Aschner
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • metabolites
  • prodrug
  • metabolic pathway
  • in silico
  • organ-on-a-chip
  • heavy metals

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 5998 KiB  
Article
Toxicological Effects of Thimerosal and Aluminum in the Liver, Kidney, and Brain of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
by Maria Eduarda Andrade Galiciolli, Juliana Ferreira Silva, Maritana Mela Prodocimo, Henrique Aparecido Laureano, Sabrina Loise de Morais Calado, Claudia Sirlene Oliveira and Izonete Cristina Guiloski
Metabolites 2023, 13(9), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13090975 - 27 Aug 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1750
Abstract
Vaccination programs in the first years of a child’s life are effective and extremely important strategies for the successful eradication of diseases. However, as no intervention is without risks, the metal-based components of some vaccines, such as thimerosal (TMS), a preservative composed of [...] Read more.
Vaccination programs in the first years of a child’s life are effective and extremely important strategies for the successful eradication of diseases. However, as no intervention is without risks, the metal-based components of some vaccines, such as thimerosal (TMS), a preservative composed of ethylmercury, and aluminum (Al), have begun to generate distrust on the part of the population. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of exposure to thimerosal and aluminum hydroxide (alone or in mixture) on Danio rerio (zebrafish) specimens. The fish were exposed to thimerosal and/or aluminum hydroxide intraperitoneally. The liver, kidney, and brain were removed for a biochemical biomarker analysis, histopathological analysis, and metal quantification. As a result, we observed changes in the activity of the analyzed enzymes (SOD, GST, GPx) in the kidney and brain of the zebrafish, a reduction in GSH levels in all analyzed tissues, and a reduction in MT levels in the kidney and liver as well as in the brain. Changes in AChE enzyme activity were observed. The biochemical results corroborate the changes observed in the lesion index and histomorphology sections. We emphasize the importance of joint research on these compounds to increase the population’s safety against their possible toxic effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Heavy Metals on Human Metabolism)
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19 pages, 3279 KiB  
Article
Dietary Egg White Hydrolysate Prevents Male Reproductive Dysfunction after Long-Term Exposure to Aluminum in Rats
by Caroline Silveira Martinez, Jose Antonio Uranga-Ocio, Franck Maciel Peçanha, Dalton Valentim Vassallo, Christopher Exley, Marta Miguel-Castro and Giulia Alessandra Wiggers
Metabolites 2022, 12(12), 1188; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12121188 - 28 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1560
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) is a non-essential metal omnipresent in human life and is considered an environmental toxicant. Al increases reactive oxygen production and triggers immune responses, contributing to chronic systemic inflammation development. Here, we have tested whether an egg white hydrolysate (EWH) with potential [...] Read more.
Aluminum (Al) is a non-essential metal omnipresent in human life and is considered an environmental toxicant. Al increases reactive oxygen production and triggers immune responses, contributing to chronic systemic inflammation development. Here, we have tested whether an egg white hydrolysate (EWH) with potential bioactive properties can protect against changes in reproductive function in rats exposed to long-term Al dietary levels at high and low doses. Male Wistar rats received orally: low aluminum level group—AlCl3 at 8.3 mg/kg b.w. for 60 days with or without EWH (1 g/kg/day); high aluminum level group—AlCl3 at 100 mg/kg b.w. for 42 days with or without EWH (1 g/kg/day). The co-administration of EWH prevented the increased Al deposition surrounding the germinative cells, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the reproductive organs. Furthermore, the daily supplementation with EWH maintained sperm production and sperm quality similar to those found in control animals, even after Al exposure at a high dietary contamination level. Altogether, our results suggest that EWH could be used as a protective agent against impairment in the reproductive system produced after long-term exposure to Al at low or high human dietary levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Heavy Metals on Human Metabolism)
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