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Mechanisms and individuality in chromium toxicity in humans
Author(s) -
Pavesi Thelma,
Moreira Josino Costa
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.3965
Subject(s) - toxicity , carcinogenesis , epigenetics , chromium , carcinogen , genome instability , mechanism (biology) , genetics , chromium compounds , chemistry , mechanism of action , biology , dna damage , computational biology , bioinformatics , dna , in vitro , cancer , gene , philosophy , organic chemistry , epistemology
With regards to health, chromium (Cr) is an ambiguous chemical element. Although it is considered to be an important micronutrient, it also is connected with several pathologies, including carcinogenicity. The mechanism of action of Cr and its compounds in humans is not yet fully understood. Currently, three possible mechanisms have been proposed for carcinogenesis: Cr(VI)‐induced multistage carcinogenesis, genomic instability, and epigenetic modification. Therefore, in addition to the toxicity of this metal and its ions, human susceptibility to Cr‐induced pathologies depends on external factors and individual characteristics, such as enzymatic polymorphisms, carriers, endogenous reducing system, adduct formation and stability, and efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms, among other factors. In fact, the variability of individual molecular constitutive factors, such as individual polymorphisms, creates an individualized environment for Cr toxicity. This mini‐review contemplates the essential variables in this process.