Gene Expression Profile in Human Skin Fibroblasts Exposed to Potassium Dichromate

Details

• Personal Author:
  He Q ; Joseph P
• Description:
  Chromium containing compounds are extensively used in various applications resulting in significant human exposure. Several adverse health effects, including irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, have been reported among workers following occupational exposure to chromium containing compounds. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for the dermal toxicity of chromium, differential gene expression profiles of human skin fibroblasts exposed to a cytotoxic concentration of hexavalent potassium dichromate [Cr(VI)] were studied. Skin fibroblasts were exposed to 5 uM Cr(VI) for time intervals up to 24- hr and their differential gene expression profile was studied using the Toxicology and Drug Resistance Microarray (Super Array Inc.). Of the 280 genes represented on the array, the expression levels of 32 genes were found to be differentially affected in the fibroblasts exposed to Cr(VI). In general, genes involved in stress response, cell cycle control, drug metabolism, apoptosis and growth were differentially expressed in response to Cr(VI) exposure. The role of intracellular glutathione on the Cr(VI)-induced alterations in the expression of genes was further investigated using heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) as the model gene. Modulating the intracellular glutathione level by pre-treating the cells with either BSO (buthionine- Sulfoximine) or glutathione significantly influenced the potential of Cr(VI) to induce expression of the HO-1 gene. Pre-treating the cells with BSO resulted in a significant reduction in glutathione levels. The Cr-induced overexpression of the HO-1 gene in the BSO-treated cells was significantly higher than in those cells without BSO treatment. On the other hand, pre-treating the cells with glutathione partially blocked the Cr(VI)-induced overexpression of the HO-1 gene. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Cr(VI) exerts its toxic effects in human skin fibroblasts by multiple mechanisms involved in various cellular functions; and the cellular glutathione level appears to be an important factor influencing Cr(VI)'s effects on the expression of genes. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chromium Cytotoxins Dermatitis Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Hypersensitivity Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Potassium Compounds Safety Skin Skin Diseases

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• Keywords:
  Allergic-dermatitis Chromium-compounds Cytotoxic-effects Cytotoxicity Dermatology Dermatosis Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Occupational-exposure Potassium-compounds Skin-diseases Skin-irritants Toxic-effects Toxins

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  90
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20029897
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2006 Mar; 90(1):240
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chromium (CAS RN 7440-47-3) ; Potassium (CAS RN 7440-09-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• NORA Priority Area:
  Research Tools and Approaches: Cancer Research Methods
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 45th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 5-9, 2006, San Diego, California
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8aae5efe714386eda2751c27ca0268e8d8f649fe156b49ac3e29538fbe8b0ab20609a8a3dfcc3a89a29b8845628d86769943836ba74bd3f6cadd78439a92a9c5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/190790/cdc_190790_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 152.27 KB ]