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Serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) levels in women from Mexico exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

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Abstract

Recent studies indicate that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a very important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Correspondingly, adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (FABP4, also known as aP2 and AFABP) has been proposed as a new, meaningful and useful biomarker to predict metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate serum FABP4 levels in Mexican women exposed to PAHs. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene ((1-OHP), exposure biomarker for PAHs) levels were quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique, and serum FABP4 concentrations were analyzed using a commercially available ELISA kit. The mean urinary 1-OHP level found in women participating in this study was 1.30 ± 1.10 μmol/mol creatinine (2.45 ± 2.10 μg/g creatinine). Regarding serum FABP4 concentrations, the levels ranged from 3.80 to 62.5 ng/mL in the assessed population. Moreover, a significant association (p < 0.001) was found between urinary 1-OHP levels and serum FABP4 concentrations in women after adjusting for potential confounding variables. The presented data in this study can be considered only as a starting point for further studies. Then, in order to elucidate whether FABP4 represents a risk factor for CVD disease in humans exposed to air contaminants (such as PAHs), large epidemiological studies are necessary.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financed by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico. Proyectos de Desarrollo Científico para Atender Problemas Nacionales 2015. PDCPN2015-1558. The authors would like to thank Miss. Laura Carmen Martínez for helping with the English editing.

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Correspondence to Iván N. Pérez-Maldonado.

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The study was approved by the ethical committee of the School of Medicine, at the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi.

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Ochoa-Martínez, Á.C., Ruíz-Vera, T., Pruneda-Álvarez, L.G. et al. Serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) levels in women from Mexico exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 1862–1870 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7971-8

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