Clinical and molecular aspects of lead toxicity: An update

Lead toxicity is a major public health issue in developed and developing countries. Both acute and chronic lead exposure has the potential to cause many deleterious systematic effects including hypertension, frank anemia, cognitive deficits, infertility, immune imbalances, delayed skeletal and deciduous dental development, vitamin D deficiency, and gastrointestinal effects. The underlying mechanisms for all these systemic effects have not been elucidated completely. However, the most plausible cause is free radical damage. In addition to this, lead being a divalent cation can surrogate for calcium at multiple levels affecting various cell signaling pathways. The molecular basis of lead exposure resulting in various systemic effects is being extensively explored. The reports include single nucleotide polymorphisms, epigenetic modifications in susceptible individuals, and the most recent reports also feature regulatory RNA molecules – miRNAs. However, many genetic targets are identified, but their possible mechanisms are still an area to be explored. Additional studies are needed in different population groups to validate the existing findings, as well as to find newer targets that may help in better understanding the molecular mechanisms contributing to lead toxicity. Furthermore, newer strategies for lead risk assessment becomes necessary as the previously recognized “safe” level of lead is also being found to be associated with negative health outcomes.