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The haem‐regulated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 α kinase: a molecular indicator of lead‐toxicity anaemia in rabbits
Author(s) -
Anand Sanjay,
Pal Jayanta K.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
biotechnology and applied biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.468
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1470-8744
pISSN - 0885-4513
DOI - 10.1042/ba20020009
Subject(s) - reticulocyte , western blot , toxicity , heat shock protein , hsp70 , biology , kinase , heme , pharmacology , chemistry , biochemistry , medicine , enzyme , messenger rna , gene
The haem‐regulated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 α kinase, also called the haem‐regulated inhibitor (HRI), has been shown to increase in the peripheral blood cells as a function of drug‐induced anaemia in rabbits, suggesting that it could be a molecular indicator of drug‐induced anaemia [Anand and Pal (1997) J. Biosci. 22 , 287–298]. In the present investigation, we have determined the expression of HRI during lead‐induced anaemia in rabbits. The level of anaemia has been determined by routine procedures such as reticulocyte count, haemoglobin content and packed cell volume. These values were compared with the results obtained for a quantitative Western blot of HRI in the blood cell lysates of drug‐ and lead‐induced anaemic rabbits. These results indicate that HRI could be used as a molecular marker for lead‐induced anaemia since a progressive increase in HRI levels could be detected as a function of the time of lead exposure. In order to understand the role of stress proteins, heat‐shock protein (Hsp) 70 and Hsp90, in inducing anaemia during lead exposure, levels of Hsp70 and Hsp90, and their interaction with HRI, have been determined. Increased levels of these proteins and their intermolecular complexes with HRI suggest their role in regulating protein synthesis during lead‐induced anaemia. These observations further reiterate the use of HRI as a potential indicator for drug‐ and heavy‐metal‐induced anaemia in humans.