Association between NAG-B and cadmium in urine with no evidence of a threshold.

Bernard, Alfred;Thielemans, N.;Roels, Harry;Lauwerys, Robert
(1995) Occupational and Environmental Medicine : an international peer-reviewed journal in all aspects of occupational & environmental medicine — Vol. 52, n° 3, p. 177-180 (1995)

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Abstract
OBJECTIVES--To explore the significance of the increase in urinary excretion of the lysosomal enzyme beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) at low exposures to cadmium (Cd) that is frequently found in the absence of any other sign of renal dysfunction. METHODS--The activity was measured of the two main isoenzymes of NAG (NAG-A secreted by exocytosis and NAG-B released with cell membranes) in the urine of 49 male workers employed in a Cd smelter and of 20 age matched controls. RESULTS--An increased urinary excretion of low molecular weight proteins was noted only in subjects who excreted > 10 micrograms Cd/g creatinine. The urinary activity of NAG-B showed a dose related increase that was already significant in the group excreting 0.5-2 micrograms Cd/g creatinine. In multiple regression analysis the NAG-B activity correlated with the excretion of Cd but not with that of lead or mercury. The NAG-A activity was by contrast unaffected by exposure to Cd but correlated with the urinary excretion of lead and copper. CONCLUSIONS--As NAG-B is considered to be the lesional form of NAG, the existence of a specific association between this enzyme and urinary Cd excretion with no detectable threshold suggests that this metal produces cellular alterations at exposures commonly found in the general population.
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Bernard, A., Thielemans, N., Roels, H., & Lauwerys, R. (1995). Association between NAG-B and cadmium in urine with no evidence of a threshold. Occupational and Environmental Medicine : an international peer-reviewed journal in all aspects of occupational & environmental medicine, 52(3), 177-180. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.52.3.177 (Original work published 1995)