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PMID: 12426129 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review

The role of biomethylation in toxicity and carcinogenicity of arsenic: a research update.

Environmental health perspectives ·Vol. 110 Suppl 5 ·2002-10-00 ·Pages 767-71

Stýblo M, Drobná Z, Jaspers I, Lin S, Thomas DJ

Abstract

Recent research of the metabolism and biological effects of arsenic has profoundly changed our understanding of the role of metabolism in modulation of toxicity and carcinogenicity of this metalloid. Historically, the enzymatic conversion of inorganic arsenic to mono- and dimethylated species has been considered a major mechanism for detoxification of inorganic arsenic. However, compelling experimental evidence obtained from several laboratories suggests that biomethylation, particularly the production of methylated metabolites that contain trivalent arsenic, is a process that activates arsenic as a toxin and a carcinogen. This article summarizes this evidence and provides new data on a) the toxicity of methylated trivalent arsenicals in mammalian cells, b) the effects of methylated trivalent arsenicals on gene transcription, and c) the mechanisms involved in arsenic methylation in animal and human tissues.

MeSH Terms
Animals Arsenic/metabolism,toxicity Biotransformation Cell Line Cell Transformation, Neoplastic Humans Mammals Methylation Methyltransferases/pharmacology Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
Chemicals
Methyltransferases Arsenic
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Stýblo Miroslav
Department of Pediatrics, Center for Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology, Burnett-Womack Clinical Sciences Building, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7220, USA. [email protected]
Drobná Zuzana
Jaspers Ilona
Lin Shan
Thomas David J
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Article Info
Journal
Environmental health perspectives
Abbr.
Environ Health Perspect
ISSN
0091-6765
DOI
10.1289/ehp.110-1241242
Email
[email protected]
Published
2002-10-00
Pages
767-71
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0330411
PMCID
PMC1241242
Subset
IM
Grants
NIDDK NIH HHS · DK 56350 · United States
NIEHS NIH HHS · ES 09941 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1289/ehp.110-1241242 PMC Full Text View journal details
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