Effect of arsenic exposure on human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene expression: Risk of cardiovascular diseases

Arsenic exposure and cardiovascular diseases

Authors

  • Laila Khaleda Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • Mohammad Al-Forkan Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • Fahmida Binta Wali Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Science and Technology Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • Md Jibran Alam Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • Amit Datta Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • Inzamamul Ismail Shawon Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • Nazmul Hosain Department of Cardiac Surgery, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh
  • Md Zillur Rahman Department of Pathology, Chittagong Medical College, Chittagong, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v45i1.41802

Keywords:

Arsenic, hTERT, Cardiovascular disease, Telomerase

Abstract

Background: Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) through drinking water is currently a serious threat to public health of millions of people worldwide including Bangladesh. Some recent studies have shown that telomere dysfunction is emerging as an important factor in the pathogenesis of different cardiovascular diseases. Arsenic plays significant role on telomere dysfunction by altering the expression of telomere-related genes.

Objective: The study was aimed to investigate the effects of arsenic on hTERT mRNA levels and their combined role in increasing CVD susceptibility.

Methods: In this cross sectional study, total of 50 CVD patients who underwent open heart surgery were recruited. Urine, nail and cardiac tissue samples were collected and analysed for As. Blood samples were quantified for hTERT expression analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The hTERT mRNA expression was found approximately 10 fold higher in the As-exposed patients than the As-unexposed patients (p<0.01). A strong positive correlation (p<0.01, r>0.3) was found between the hTERT mRNA levels and As contents in the cardiac tissue, nail and urine samples of the study subjects. The significant increase (approx. 4 fold) in the hTERT mRNA expression was found in the patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) than the non-CAD patients.

Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that arsenic exposure increases hTERT mRNA expression which may in turn modify As-induced cardiovascular outcomes. The findings of this study will help to look deep into the association of As exposure in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis to open a new window in the diagnosis and treatment procedure of CVD.

Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2019; 45: 03-10

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Published

2019-06-15

How to Cite

Khaleda, L., Al-Forkan, M., Wali, F. B., Alam, M. J., Datta, A., Shawon, I. I., Hosain, N., & Rahman, M. Z. (2019). Effect of arsenic exposure on human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene expression: Risk of cardiovascular diseases: Arsenic exposure and cardiovascular diseases. Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin, 45(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v45i1.41802

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 1 (2019)

Section

Research Papers

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