Effects of dietary folate intake and folate binding protein-1 (Folbp1) on urinary speciation of sodium arsenate in mice

Toxicol Lett. 2003 Nov 30;145(2):167-74. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4274(03)00307-2.

Abstract

In most mammalian species, arsenic biotransformation occurs primarily by biomethylation with dimethylarsinic acid being the predominant metabolite excreted in the urine. Folbp1 (folate binding protein-1) mediated intracellular folate uptake is one route by which cells harvest folate cofactors. In light of the likely relationship between folate biochemistry and arsenic biotransformation, our experiments were designed to test: (1) whether Folbp1 is an important determinant in arsenic biotransformation, by performing urinary arsenic speciation in Folbp1 nullizygous (Folbp1(-/-)) and wildtype control mice, and (2) whether dietary folate deficiency alters arsenic biotransformation in these mice. Compared to normal folate intake, folate deficiency caused lower amounts of arsenic to be excreted in the urine of both the wildtype controls and Folbp1(-/-) mice. Folbp1(-/-) mice excreted more dimethylarsinic acid than wildtype control mice during folate deficiency, but not during normal folate intake. The present data suggest that inadequate folate intake may result in decreased biotransformation and excretion of arsenic, which is likely to increase arsenic exposure and related toxicities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arsenates / urine*
  • Arsenic / metabolism
  • Arsenic / toxicity
  • Arsenic / urine
  • Arsenic Poisoning / urine*
  • Arsenicals / urine
  • Arsenites / urine
  • Cacodylic Acid / urine
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Folic Acid / blood
  • Folic Acid / metabolism*
  • Folic Acid Deficiency / metabolism
  • Folic Acid Deficiency / urine*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Cell Surface*
  • S-Adenosylhomocysteine / blood
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / blood

Substances

  • Arsenates
  • Arsenicals
  • Arsenites
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Folic Acid
  • S-Adenosylhomocysteine
  • Cacodylic Acid
  • monomethylarsonic acid
  • arsenite
  • Arsenic
  • arsenic acid