Lead and heavy metals in the body — a silent poison that does not show up in test results?

Aim of the study: Lead is one of the most toxic heavy metals in the environment. The present review aimed to highlight hazardous pollution sources, management, and review symptoms of lead poisonings in various parts of the world.

Results: Furthermore, neurological, gastrointestinal, and hematological disorders were the most frequently occurring symptoms in lead-poisoned patients. As for therapeutic strategies, our findings confirm the safety and efficacy of chelating agents, even for infants. Our results suggest that treatment with chelating agents combined with the prevention of environmental exposure may be an excellent strategy to reduce the rate of lead poisoning. Besides, more clinical studies and long-term follow-ups are necessary to address all questions about lead poisoning management.

Aim of the study: Lead is a prevalent environmental pollutant and the heavy metal most frequently associated with toxic effects in humans. This study aimed to evaluate changes in urinary lead excretion following intravenous Ca-DTPA administration.

Results: 9.8; p = 0.003). All participants had detectable urinary lead levels, and intravenous Ca-DTPA administration was associated with a significant increase in urinary lead excretion. Older participants demonstrated greater lead mobilization and excretion than younger participants. These findings suggest that Ca-DTPA may reveal a mobilizable body burden of lead under the tested conditions, but they do not establish lead poisoning, reduction in total-body lead burden, symptom improvement, or long-term clinical benefit.

Aim of the study: In the present study, an intracellular melanin, named LIM205, was separated from Lachnum YM205 mycelia and was purified on a Sephadex G-15 column. The molecular weight of LIM205 was determined as 522 Da, and its molecular formula was speculated as C28H14N2O7S.

Results: FT-IR, UV, and ESI-MS analysis demonstrated that the carboxymethylate groups were conjugated onto LIM205. The lead detoxification activities of LIM205 and CLIM205 had also been investigated. In vivo test showed that both LIM205 and CLIM205 reduced the tissue lead concentration, enhanced lead excretion, and reversed lead-induced alterations in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in mice, with CLIM205 showed better efficacy. The study indicates that LIM205 and CLIM205 have significant lead detoxification effect which will contribute to solve related problems.

Aim of the study: Chronic lead poisoning has become a major factor in global public health. Chelation therapy is usually used to manage lead poisoning.

Results: Furthermore, the median survival of the RBCM-DMSA-NP treatment group (47 days) was 3.61-fold, 1.32-fold, and 1.16-fold for the lead poisoning group, free DMSA, and DMSA-NP groups, respectively. The RBCM-DMSA-NP treatment significantly extended the cycle time of the drug in the body and improved the survival rate of mice with chronic lead poisoning. Histological analyses showed that RBCM-DMSA-NPs did not cause significant systemic toxicity. These results indicated that RBCM-DMSA-NPs could be a potential candidate for long-term chronic lead exposure treatment.

Aim of the study: Lead poisoning remains a persistent global health challenge. Current small-molecule chelation therapies for lead poisoning cause systemic side effects due to non-specific metal depletion.

Results: In an acute oral Pb exposure mouse model, EcNC-P-based living materials achieved better efficacy than orally administered DTPA under the same dosing condition, reducing blood Pb levels by ∼30% and increasing fecal Pb excretion by ∼1.2-fold. Therapeutic supplementation of the probiotics promoted fecal lead excretion and markedly decreased tissue lead burdens and was associated with alleviated intestinal inflammation and altered gut microbiota composition. No systemic toxicity or adverse effects were observed with single high-dose use. This surface-anchored customized curli nanofiber probiotic integrates high-affinity lead chelation with the bioactivities of a living biointerface, offering a safe, oral, and programmable platform for the holistic management of lead poisoning.

Aim of the study: Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous poisonous metal, affecting the health of vast populations worldwide. Medications to treat Pb poisoning suffer from various limitations and are often toxic owing to insufficient metal selectivity.

Results: Medications to treat Pb poisoning suffer from various limitations and are often toxic owing to insufficient metal selectivity. Here, we report a cyclic tetrapeptide that selectively binds Pb and eradicates its toxic effect on the cellular level, with superior potency than state-of-the-art drugs. The Pb-peptide complex is remarkably strong and was characterized experimentally and computationally. Accompanied by the lack of toxicity and enhanced stability of this peptide, these qualities indicate its merit as a potential remedy for Pb poisoning.

Aim of the study: The natural tripeptide glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous compound harboring various biological tasks, among them interacting with essential and toxic metal ions. Yet, although weakly binding the poisonous metal lead (Pb), GSH poorly detoxifies it.

Results: β-Mercaptoaspartic acid is a new-to-nature novel amino acid that was found to enhance the Pb-detoxification capability of a synthetic cyclic tetrapeptide. Aiming to explore the advantages of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) of this nature, we studied the detoxification capabilities of GSH and three analogue peptides, each of which contains at least one ncAA that harbors both free carboxylate and thiolate groups. A thorough investigation that includes in vitro detoxification and mechanistic evaluations, metal-binding affinity, metal selectivity, and computational studies shows that these ncAAs are highly beneficial in additively enhancing Pb binding and reveals the importance of both high affinity and metal selectivity in synergistically reducing Pb toxicity in cells. Hence, such ncAAs join the chemical toolbox against Pb poisoning and pollution, enabling peptides to strongly and selectively bind the toxic metal ion.

Aim of the study: Widespread exposure and bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals have increased the incidence of metal poisoning, particularly in children. Although chelation therapy can remove toxic metals, current drugs are limited by toxicity and side effects, restricting treatment to severe cases.

Results: Dex-DOTA also showed excellent colloidal stability, no cytotoxicity, and improved cell survival following metal exposure. In C. elegans, the conjugate was nontoxic and mitigated heavy metal-induced toxicity. These findings establish Dex-DOTA as a stable, selective, and biocompatible chelator with strong potential for safer systemic treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

Aim of the study: Lead (Pb2+) exposure remains a persistent and serious public health concern due to its widespread presence and profound toxicity. Building on recent advances in toxin-neutralizing cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CNPs) and the discovery of Pb2+-binding DNA aptamers, we develop dual-action neuron-mimetic CNPs for effective Pb2+ detoxification.

Results: In vivo, Neuron-MOF/aptamer-NP treatment significantly improves survival in a mouse model of lead poisoning and reduces hematologic, hepatic, and renal damage. Behavioral assessments further confirm the restoration of spatial memory and locomotor function. Neuron-MOF/aptamer-NPs exhibit no signs of acute toxicity in healthy mice. These findings establish Neuron-MOF/aptamer-NPs as a potent and biocompatible therapeutic platform for targeted lead detoxification with systemic and neuroprotective benefits.