Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional Assessment
(1) Background: Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including tumor-promoting hepatotoxins. We recently reported evidence of an independent association between oral cyanobacteria and hepatocellular carcinoma in a U.S. population. We sought to characterize the nature, sources...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/8/1607 |
| _version_ | 1797431911987019776 |
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| author | Brenda Y. Hernandez Jason Biggs Xuemei Zhu Patrick Sotto Michelle Nagata Ana Joy Pacilan Mendez Yvette Paulino |
| author_facet | Brenda Y. Hernandez Jason Biggs Xuemei Zhu Patrick Sotto Michelle Nagata Ana Joy Pacilan Mendez Yvette Paulino |
| author_sort | Brenda Y. Hernandez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including tumor-promoting hepatotoxins. We recently reported evidence of an independent association between oral cyanobacteria and hepatocellular carcinoma in a U.S. population. We sought to characterize the nature, sources, and health correlates of cyanotoxin exposure in the U.S. Pacific Island territory of Guam, which has a high incidence of liver cancer. (2) Methods: Seventy-four adult males and females were enrolled in a cross-sectional study to quantify cyanotoxins in saliva, urine, and blood and their correlation with health behaviors, medical history, and environmental exposures. Plant samples were collected from locations throughout the island. Microcystin/nodularin (MC/NOD), cylindrospermopsin (CYN), and anabaenopeptin (AB) were measured in biospecimens and in plant extracts by ELISA. (3) Results: Overall, among study participants MC/NOD were detected in 53.9% of saliva, 7.5% of urine, and 100% of serum.; CYN in 40.0% of saliva, 100.0% of urine, and 70.4% of serum; AB in 30.8% of saliva, 85% of urine, and 92.6% of serum. Salivary MC/NOD levels were significantly higher in individuals using municipal tap water as their primary source of drinking water; both salivary and urinary MC/NOD levels were higher in those not using store-bought/commercial water. Urine MC/NOD levels were highest among individuals consuming fruits and vegetables exclusively from local sources. Urine MC/NOD levels were elevated in individuals with hypertension and hyperlipidemia and salivary MC/NOD in those with recent alcohol consumption. Cyanotoxins were prevalent in plant samples including MC/NOD (46.6%), CYN (35.1%), and AB (51.7%). (4) Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that exposure to cyanobacterial hepatotoxins, including tumor promoters, may be prevalent in Guam and may originate from environmental sources. Population-based epidemiologic studies are needed to investigate the role of cyanotoxins in liver cancer development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:52:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b372f29914b54230a38d70f455b95732 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:52:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-b372f29914b54230a38d70f455b957322023-12-02T00:02:40ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-08-01108160710.3390/microorganisms10081607Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional AssessmentBrenda Y. Hernandez0Jason Biggs1Xuemei Zhu2Patrick Sotto3Michelle Nagata4Ana Joy Pacilan Mendez5Yvette Paulino6University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USAUniversity of Guam Cancer Research Center, Mangilao, GU 96913, USAUniversity of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USAUniversity of Guam Cancer Research Center, Mangilao, GU 96913, USAUniversity of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USAUniversity of Guam Cancer Research Center, Mangilao, GU 96913, USAUniversity of Guam Cancer Research Center, Mangilao, GU 96913, USA(1) Background: Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including tumor-promoting hepatotoxins. We recently reported evidence of an independent association between oral cyanobacteria and hepatocellular carcinoma in a U.S. population. We sought to characterize the nature, sources, and health correlates of cyanotoxin exposure in the U.S. Pacific Island territory of Guam, which has a high incidence of liver cancer. (2) Methods: Seventy-four adult males and females were enrolled in a cross-sectional study to quantify cyanotoxins in saliva, urine, and blood and their correlation with health behaviors, medical history, and environmental exposures. Plant samples were collected from locations throughout the island. Microcystin/nodularin (MC/NOD), cylindrospermopsin (CYN), and anabaenopeptin (AB) were measured in biospecimens and in plant extracts by ELISA. (3) Results: Overall, among study participants MC/NOD were detected in 53.9% of saliva, 7.5% of urine, and 100% of serum.; CYN in 40.0% of saliva, 100.0% of urine, and 70.4% of serum; AB in 30.8% of saliva, 85% of urine, and 92.6% of serum. Salivary MC/NOD levels were significantly higher in individuals using municipal tap water as their primary source of drinking water; both salivary and urinary MC/NOD levels were higher in those not using store-bought/commercial water. Urine MC/NOD levels were highest among individuals consuming fruits and vegetables exclusively from local sources. Urine MC/NOD levels were elevated in individuals with hypertension and hyperlipidemia and salivary MC/NOD in those with recent alcohol consumption. Cyanotoxins were prevalent in plant samples including MC/NOD (46.6%), CYN (35.1%), and AB (51.7%). (4) Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that exposure to cyanobacterial hepatotoxins, including tumor promoters, may be prevalent in Guam and may originate from environmental sources. Population-based epidemiologic studies are needed to investigate the role of cyanotoxins in liver cancer development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/8/1607cyanobacteriacyanotoxinshepatotoxinsmicrocystinnodularincylindrospermopsin |
| spellingShingle | Brenda Y. Hernandez Jason Biggs Xuemei Zhu Patrick Sotto Michelle Nagata Ana Joy Pacilan Mendez Yvette Paulino Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional Assessment Microorganisms cyanobacteria cyanotoxins hepatotoxins microcystin nodularin cylindrospermopsin |
| title | Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional Assessment |
| title_full | Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional Assessment |
| title_short | Environmental Exposure to Cyanobacteria Hepatotoxins in a Pacific Island Community: A Cross-Sectional Assessment |
| title_sort | environmental exposure to cyanobacteria hepatotoxins in a pacific island community a cross sectional assessment |
| topic | cyanobacteria cyanotoxins hepatotoxins microcystin nodularin cylindrospermopsin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/8/1607 |
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