Acute organo-phosphorus pesticide poisoning in North Karnataka, India: oxidative damage, haemoglobin level and total leukocyte

Abstract

Background

Pesticide poisoning is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in India.

Objectives

To assess the oxidative damage, hemoglobin level and leukocyte count in acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning.

Methods

Plasma cholinesterase was assessed as a toxicity marker. Oxidative damage was assessed by estimating serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels.

Results

Progressive and significant decline (p< 0.001) in plasma cholinesterase in correlation with the severity of organophosphorus poisoning was observed. Serum MDA levels significantly increased (p< 0.001) in all grades of organophosphorus poisoning cases as compared to controls. Erythrocyte SOD, CAT and GPx were significantly increased (p< 0.05) in earlier grade and (p< 0.001) in later grades of organophosphorus poisoning cases as compared to controls. While plasma TAC (p<0.001) was significantly decreased in all grades of organophosphorus poisoning cases as compared to controls.

Leucocytosis observed in these cases signifies the activation of defense mechanism which could be a positive response for survival.

Conclusion

Organophosphorus compounds inhibit cholinesterase action leading to cholinergic hyperactivity. Increased MDA level may lead to peroxidative damages deteriorating the structural and functional integrity of neuronal membrane. Increased erythrocyte SOD, CAT and GPx activities suggest an adaptive measure to tackle the pesticide accumulation. Hence it is concluded that cholinesterase inhibition may initiate cellular dysfunction leading to acetylcholine induced oxidative damage.

Introduction

Organophosphorus (OP) pesticide poisoning is a major global health problem with thousands of deaths every year. Recent World Health Organization report shows that every year about three million cases of OP intoxications and 3,00,000 OP poisoning related death occurs worldwide¹.

Organophosphorus compounds are phosphoric or phosphonic acid derivative which are irreversible inhibitors of both muscarinic and nicotinic acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and affect the central nervous system. These compounds rapidly get absorbed following inhalation or ingestion; once absorbed the compounds get accumulated in fat, liver, kidneys and salivary glands ².

The primary mechanism of action of organophosphate pesticides is inhibition of carboxyl ester hydrolases, particularly acetyl cholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7). AChE is an enzyme found on red blood cell (RBC) membranes that degrades the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) into choline and acetic acid. ACh is found in the central and peripheral nervous system, neuromuscular junctions, and red blood cells. Pseudocholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8), which is a liver acute phase protein present in bloodplasma and nervous tissue, is inhibited by organophosphorus compounds in a similar way to AChE, but the specificity of the two enzymes is different. Organophosphates inactivate AChE by phosphorylating the serine hydroxyl group located at the active site of AChE. The phosphorylation occurs by loss of an organophosphate leaving group and establishment of a covalent bond with AChE. Once AChE has been inactivated, ACh accumulates throughout the nervous system, resulting in over stimulation of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Clinical effects are manifested via activation of the autonomic and central nervous systems and at nicotinic receptors on skeletal muscle. BChE like other serine esterase reacts with OP compounds forming phosphorylated esterases ³.

The leading cause of death in OP poisoning is respiratory failure. The mortality rate depends on the type of compound used, amount ingested, general health of the patient and delay in diagnosis or treatment. Patients with pesticide poisoning shows a wide spectrum of adverse health effects ranging from gastrointestinal symptoms to cardiac, immunological or neurotoxic diseases ⁴.

Oxidative stress results when pro-oxidant are insufficiently balanced by antioxidants, resulting in cellular damage. Measurement of lipid peroxidation products, e.g. malondialdehyde (MDA) and endogenous oxygen free radical (OFR) scavengers such as SOD, CAT and GPx are effective markers to study OFR effects. Lipid peroxidation is increased in many disease states as well as in tissues poisoned by toxins. One of the molecular mechanisms of the toxicity of the pesticides seems to be lipid peroxidation; as a consequence these compounds can disturb the biochemical and physiological functions of red blood cells, hence the study was planned to assess the oxidative damage & hematological parameters in acute organophosphorus poisoning.

Methods

The present study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry; B.L.D.E.U's Shri B.M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethical committee and utmost care was taken during experimental procedure according to the Helsinki declaration. It includes 150 clinically diagnosed OP poisoning cases admitted in this hospital and 30 normal healthy control subjects. Diagnosis was based on information taken both from the patient or the patient's family and characteristic clinical signs and symptoms.

Clinically diagnosed OP poisoning cases on the basis of definite history by patient or attendants and also confirmed by clinical features and characteristic odour of stomach wash or vomitus were included in the study. Patients with double poisoning, chronic lung disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, renal failure, known neuromuscular disease, smokers and alcoholics which may interfere in assessment of oxidative stress; were excluded from the study.

The grouping of the OP poisoning cases was done depending upon signs and symptoms.

Grade I - OP poisoned with no signs and symptoms (n = 26).

Grade II - Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, giddiness (n = 27).

Grade III - Pupillary constriction with above symptoms (n = 31).

Grade IV - Pulmonary edema (n = 34).

Grade V - Unconsciousness (n = 32).

Immediately after admission to the hospital, before starting the appropriate treatment; 10 ml venous blood samples were collected from the subjects under aseptic conditions. Out of this 4 ml blood was collected in heparinised bulb and 6 ml in plain bulb. Serum and plasma were separated by centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes, at room temperature. Then all samples were immediately placed at 40°C until they were processed to get accurate and reproducible results. After separation of the plasma, erythrocytes were washed three times with 0.9% saline solution. To one volume of washed erythrocytes nine volume of cold redistilled water was mixed then centrifuged for 10 minutes to get the hemolysate which was used for estimation of erythrocyte SOD, CAT and GPx.

Plasma ChE was estimated by Butyrylthiocholine Kinetic Method, using standard kit of Agappe Diagnostics. Cholinesterase act on butyrylthiocholine to form thiocholine which acts on dithio-bis-nitro benzoic acid giving pink colored 2-nitro, 5- mercaptobenzoate ^{5, 6}.

Serum MDA concentration was measured as lipid peroxidation product by the Kei Satoh method. Serum proteins were precipitated by trichloro acetic acid (TCA) and the mixture was heated for 30 minutes with thiobarbituric acid in 2M sodium sulphate, in a boiling water bath. The resulting chromogen was extracted with n-butyl alcohol and the absorbance of the organic phase was determined at a wavelength of 530nm. The values were expressed in terms of nmol/ml of malondialdehyde (MDA) using 1,1,3,3, tetra ethoxy propane as the standard ⁷.

Activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured by the method of Marklund and Marklund. Superoxide anion is involved in the auto oxidation of pyrogallol at alkaline pH 8.5. The superoxide dismutase inhibits the auto-oxidation of pyrogallol, which can be determined as an increase in absorbance per two minutes at 420nm. The SOD activity was measured as Units/gms of Hb. One unit of superoxide dismutase is defined as the amount of enzyme required to cause 50% inhibition of pyrogallol auto oxidation⁸.

Erythrocyte catalase was measured by the method of Aebi (1983). Heparinized blood was centrifuged and the plasma was removed. The erythrocytes were washed three times with 5 ml 0.9% sodium chloride and lysed in 10 volumes of cold deionised water. The whole mixture was centrifuged further for 10min at 3,000 rpm. The cell debris was removed and the clear hemolysate was diluted 500 times phosphate buffer (60mM, pH- 7.4). Catalase decomposes hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to form water and molecular oxygen. In the ultra violet range, H O shows a continual increase in absorbance with decreasing wavelength. At 240nm, H₂O₂ absorbs maximum light. When H₂O₂ is decomposed by catalase then the absorbance decreases. The decreased absorbance was measured at 240nm at 15 second intervals up to 1min and the difference in absorbance (Δ A at 240nm) per unit time was measured. The unit of catalase activity was expressed as mM of H₂O₂ decomposed/mg Hb/min ⁹.

Erythrocyte Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was assayed by Paglia and Valentine method. GPx catalyses the oxidation of glutathione by cumene hydroperoxide. In the presence of glutathione reductase and NADPH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) the oxidized glutathione is immediately converted to the reduced form with a concomitant oxidation of NADPH to NADP+. The decrease in absorbance at 340 nm is measured ¹⁰.

The plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was estimated by FRAP (Ferric reducing ability of plasma) assay. The antioxidant power of plasma converts ferric ions to ferrous ions at low pH forming a pink coloured ferrous tripyridyl triazine (Fe^É - TPTZ) complex. Ferrous reducing antioxidant power values were obtained by comparing the change in the absorbance at 593nm in mixture with those of ferrous ion of known concentration. The TAC in plasma was expressed as nmol/ml ¹¹.

Hematological parameters were estimated using automated cell counter analyser; Sysmax Kx-21.

Statistical analysis of the data was performed using student t-test. The values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD). P values less than 0.05 (p<0.05) were considered as statistically significant.

Results

Organophosphorus compounds are highly toxic to human beings. Poisoning due to OP compounds is steadily increasing in India, probably because of the wide availability of pesticides as a result of extensive use in agriculture and also because of sale of these items over the counter.

In our study we found that the incidence of poisoning was more common among the age group between 15 to 35 years and males 86 (57.33%) were more likely to attempt suicide than females 57 (38%) (table 1).

Table 1.

Nature of poisoning cases in male and female

Nature of poisoning	Male	Female	Total
Suicidal	86	57	143 (95.33%)
Accidental	5	1	6 (4%)
Occupational	1	-	1 (0.67%)
	92 (61.33%)	58 (38.67%)	150

Among the OP compounds the most commonly used were Dimethoate, Monocrotophos, Chlorpyrifos, Paraoxan, Mevinphos and Triazophos. The plasma ChE level of normal healthy control group ranged from 4500–8000 U/L and in OP poisoning cases 400–4800 U/L. We found significant (p<0.001) and progressive decline in plasma ChE levels in all grades of OP poisoning cases compared to controls. Further with an increase in the severity of poisoning there was corresponding decrease in plasma ChE activities as shown in table-2. Significant depression in plasma ChE activity suggests that estimation of plasma ChE is useful in confirmation of OP poisoning. The results are in consistent with earlier studies ¹². In earlier study we found a steady recovery in plasma ChE levels after treatment¹³. While no correlation between serum ChE level and severity of OP poisoning was also reported ¹⁴.

Table 2.

Mean values of Plasma Cholinesterase (ChE) and Serum MDA levels in different grades of OP poisoning cases and control subjects:

Study groups	Plasma ChE	Serum MDA
	(U/L)	(nmol/ml)
Controls	6286 ± 912.53	1.05 ± 0.37
(n=30)
Grade I	4586.4 ± 259.9**	1.97 ± 0.39**
(n=26)
Grade II	3506 ± 234.7**	2.13 ± 0.55**
(n=27)
Grade III	2462 ± 239.2**	2.16 ± 0.52**
(n=31)
Grade IV	1390 ± 254**	2.39 ± 0.61**
(n=34)
Grade V	614 ± 211**	2.52 ± 0.64**
(n=32)

Data presented are Mean ± SD;

^**indicates P< 0.001 - highly significant.

The inhibition of ChE initiates the accumulation of free radicals leading to lipid peroxidation which may be the indicator of cell injury. The phospholipids component of biomembranes is believed to be the site of action of OP compounds¹⁵. The source of free radicals in acute OP poisoning is probably muscles. Free radicals play important role in toxicity of pesticides which may induce oxidative stress leading to generation of free radicals and alteration in antioxidants or oxygen free radical scavenging enzyme system¹⁶.

Significant (p<0.001) increase in serum MDA levels in all grades of OP poisoning cases compared to controls was observed. The magnitude of increase in MDA was related with severity of OP poisoning. Toxic manifestations induced by OP compounds may be associated with enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which induces the oxidative process and lipid peroxidative damage in cell membranes. ROS are implicated as important pathologic mediators in many disorders. Increased generation of ROS and enhanced lipid peroxidation are considered responsible for the toxicity due to pesticides¹⁷.

Many intrinsic radical scavenger systems involve enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions. Significantly increased (p<0.05) activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) in grade Ist and IInd and (p<0.001) in grade IIIrd, IVth, Vth of organophosphorus poisoning cases as compared to controls was observed. While erythrocyte catalase (CAT) significantly increased (p<0.05) in Ist to IVth grades of organophosphorus poisoning cases with significant (p<0.001) increase in Vth grade as compared to controls. Significant (p<0.05) increase in erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in Ist and IInd grade while (p<0.001) in IIIrd, IVth and Vth grades organophosphorus poisoning cases as compared to controls was also observed. SOD, CAT and GPx are important components of enzymatic antioxidative systems. Increase in SOD activities in erythrocytes of OP poisoning cases indicates an increased production of superoxide radical. Increased CAT activities in erythrocytes may be explained by their influence on hydrogen peroxide as substrate, which is formed in the process of dismutation of superoxide radicals. GPx is a selenium dependent enzyme which removes both H2O2 and lipid peroxide by catalyzing the conversion of lipid hydroperoxides to hydroxyl acids in presence of reduced glutathione. GPx catalyses the reduction of hydroperoxides using GSH, thereby protecting mammalian cells against oxidative damage. Glutathione and glutathione dependent enzyme systems provide major protection against toxic agents¹⁸.

Generally there is an inverse relationship between lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes; however we found significant increase in erythrocyte SOD, CAT and and GPx activities (table no. 3) as well as serum MDA concentration. Erythrocyte SOD, CAT and GPx efficiently scavenges toxic free radicals and are partly responsible for protection against lipid peroxidation due to acute/chronic organophosphorus pesticide exposure. Thus the increase in these enzymes was probably a response towards increased ROS generation in OP toxicity. Supporting our results there is evidence that administration of malathion resulted in increased SOD, CAT as well as MDA concentration in RBCs and liver of rats ¹⁵.

Table 3.

Mean values of enzyme antioxidant (SOD, CAT and GPx) levels and plasma TAC in different grades of OP poisoning cases and control subjects:

Study groups	Erythrocyte	Erythrocyte	Erythrocyte	Plasma TAC
	SOD	CAT (mM H2O2	GPx (U/L)	(nmol/ml)
	(Units/gms	decomposed/
	of Hb)	mg Hb/min)
Controls (n=30)	10.14 ± 3.6	15.54 ± 5.67	5351 ± 935	1264 ± 130
Grade I (n=26)	13.82 ± 7.26*	18.44 ± 6.54*	6164 ± 1267*	1084.7 ± 173**
Grade II (n=27)	13.19 ± 5.54*	18.67 ± 7.03*	6035 ± 1210*	1066.8 ± 122**
Grade III (n=31)	14.39 ± 5.14**	19.25 ± 6.98*	6384 ± 1378**	1040 ± 140**
Grade IV (n=34)	15.75 ± 6.0**	20.11 ± 7.9*	6007 ± 1355**	975.5 ± 198**
Grade V (n=32)	17.84 ± 7.54**	21.28 ± 7.68**	6197 ± 1353**	912.6 ± 162**

Data presented are Mean ± SD; Note:

^*indicates p<0.05 - significant,

^**indicates p<0.001 - highly significant.

Discussion

The study showed significant decrease (p<0.001) in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in all grades of OP poisoning as compared to controls. The human body has several mechanisms to counteract with the damage produced by free radicals; the basic and the most prominent defense mechanism of human body are antioxidant agents. The overall total antioxidant capacity considers the cumulative effect of all antioxidant (known and unknown, measurable and nonmeasurable, enzymatic and nonenzymatic) present in plasma or serum of humans. Thus in acute OP poisoning sudden overproduction of reactive oxygen species leads to significant lipid peroxidation. The depletion of total antioxidant capacity induced by oxidative stress is eliminated by release of stock organ antioxidants, mainly from liver and adipose tissue and the induction or activation of antioxidant enzymes or the nonenzymatic antioxidants might be utilized to counteract the damage produced by free radicals. Due to consumption of nonenzymatic antioxidant agents which body could not compensate in a short period; hence the patient showed lower total antioxidant capacity. Ranjbar et al. reported significant lipid peroxidation accompanied with decreased TAC and ChE activity ¹⁹.

The susceptibility of erythrocytes and lymphocytes to oxidative stress due to pesticide exposure is a function of overall balance between degree of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense capability. Thus the OP compounds may directly or indirectly modify the antioxidant defense capability of exposed subjects and thus affect their susceptibility to oxidative stress ¹⁶.

The present findings indicate that cells continually suffer from oxidative stress in spite of over activity of antioxidant defense mechanism as indicated by increase in erythrocyte SOD, CAT and GPx activity. The severity of OP poisoning shows more stress and hence more free radical generation. The free radical production is so high that it even overwhelms the elevated antioxidant failing to check lipid peroxidation. The higher levels of antioxidant enzymes may be necessary to detoxify increased concentration of lipid peroxidation products that are generated from oxidative stress due to OP toxicity. We also observed that the white blood cell count significantly (p< 0.001) increased in all grades of OP poisoning cases (table 4 and figure 3). We found leucocytosis with mild neutrophilia as compared to controls. The results indicated significant decrease in the mean value of hemoglobin in the OP poisoning group compared to the control group possibly as a result of the decreased synthesis of hemoglobin concentration. Another possible interpretation is binding of organophosphorus insecticides on iron, followed by a lack of incorporation of iron in hemoglobin leading to decreased size of red blood cells. However, the significantly higher leukocytes count observed in the OP poisoning signifies the activation of the defense mechanism and immune system, which could be a positive response for survival ²⁰.

Table 4.

Mean values of Hemoglobin concentration and total leucocyte count in OP poisoning cases and control subjects

Study groups	Hb (gm %)	Total Leucocyte
		Count (Cells/Cu.mm)
Controls (n=30)	14.74 ± 2.98	7735 ± 2980
Grade I (n=26)	12.73 ± 1.84•	11719 ± 950 **
Grade II (n=27)	12.46 ± 1.2*	12891 ± 1105 **
Grade III (n=31)	12.51 ± 1.09*	12938 ± 2025**
Grade IV (n=34)	12.50 ± 0.95*	15115 ± 1915**
Grade V (n=32)	12.35 ± 1.07*	14685 ± 2245**

Data presented are Mean ± SD; Note:

^*indicates P<0.05 - significant,

^**indicates p<0.001 - highly significant,

^•indicates p> 0.05 - non significant.

Figure 3.

Percentage change graph of mean levels of Hb concentration and Total Leucocyte Count in all grades of organophosphorus (OP) poisoning cases with respect to control group

Conclusion

Thus the present study revealed that estimation of plasma ChE determines the severity of poisoning which can be helpful for predicting outcome in OP poisoning. Toxicities of OP compounds induce oxidative damage by elevating lipid peroxide levels. Increased antioxidant enzymes may be attributed to adaptive response of erythrocytes to oxidative damage due to OP compounds. This study will be helpful in management and follow up of OP poisoning related oxidative damage.

Figure 1.

Percentage change graph of plasma ChE and serum MDA in all grades of OP poisoning cases with respect to control group

Figure 2.

Percentage change graph of mean levels of Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of organophosphorus (OP) poisoning cases with respect to control group