Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Metallothioneins from Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Gold Jewellery Karigars
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Metallothioneins (MT) are cysteine rich, low molecular weight metal binding proteins involved in deto.xification and
homeostasis of metals. Due to a variety of chemical stresses MTs are stimulated and can be used to assess human exposure
to occupational agents. Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes (PBLs) have the ability to produce MTs against occupational
exposure to silver (Ag). In the present study. PBLs were isolated from the blood of gold jewellery unit workers and MT was
separated by sephade.x G-75 gel filtration. Molecular mass of MT was determined by SDS-PAGE using silver staining
method from the collected fractions. HPLC was performed to measure the levels of MT from the collected fraction, it is
suggested that the elevated levels of MT in PBLx can he used as specific indices of .silver e.xposure.