Evaluation of emerging biomarkers of renal damage and exposure to aflatoxin-B 1 in Mexican indigenous women: a pilot study Article uri icon

abstract

  • Aflatoxins (AFs) are mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus which frequently contaminate maize. These compounds are considered toxic, especially AFB 1 which has been classified as a human carcinogen, due to its relationship with the generation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Studies in vivo, in animal models, prove that chronic consumption of AFB 1 has an association with renal adverse effects, but evidence in humans is scarce. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to conduct a pilot study to evaluate the correlation between exposure to AFB 1 and early-stage renal damage in indigenous women of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Exposure to AFB 1 was measured through the biomarker AFB 1 -lysine and renal damage through kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and cystatin-C (Cys-C). AFB 1 -Lys was measured by HPLC-FLD. The method was validated with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and limit of detection and quantification of 3.5 and 4.7 pg mL −1 , respectively. Levels of NGAL, KIM-1, and Cys-C were determined (median (P25–P75), 5.96 (3.16–15.91), 0.137 (0.137–0.281), and 18.49 (5.76–29.57) ng mL −1 , respectively). Additionally, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (83.3 (59.8–107.4) mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) and serum creatinine (SCr) (0.88 (0.72–1.22) mg dL −1 ) were obtained. The median concentrations for AFB 1 -Lys were 2.08 (1.89–5.8) pg mg −1 of albumin. Statistically significant correlations between AFB 1 -Lys/KIM-1 (Rho = 0.498, p = 0.007) and AFB 1 /Cys-C (Rho = 0.431, p = 0.014) were found. Our results indicate that women are exposed to AFB 1 , due to the fact that the AFB 1 -Lys biomarker was found in a high percentage of the study population (83%25). In addition, the results of exposure to AFB 1 show a strong significant correlation between KIM-1 and Cys-C that may indicate the toxic renal effect. These results are alarming because of the high toxicity of this compound and require adequate intervention to reduce AFB 1 exposure in these populations. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

publication date

  • 2019-01-01