The first insight into the trace element status of human adrenal gland accompanied by elemental alterations in adrenal adenomas

Jovana Jagodić; Branislav Rovčanin; Ivan Paunović; Milan Jovanović; Marija Gavrović-Jankulović; Dragan Manojlović; Aleksandar Stojsavljević

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126658

The first insight into the trace element status of human adrenal gland accompanied by elemental alterations in adrenal adenomas

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2021 Jan:63:126658. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126658. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Authors

Jovana Jagodić¹, Branislav Rovčanin², Ivan Paunović², Milan Jovanović², Marija Gavrović-Jankulović³, Dragan Manojlović⁴, Aleksandar Stojsavljević⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia.
² Department of Endocrine Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Center for Endocrine Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Dr Subotića 13, Belgrade, Serbia.
³ Department of Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia.
⁴ Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia; Departments Ecology, Management of Natural Resources and Chemical Engineering, South Ural State University, Lenin Prospect 76, Chelyabinsk, Russia.
⁵ Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia; Innovation Center of the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: aleksandars@chem.bg.ac.rs.

PMID: 33035811
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126658

Abstract

Background: The baseline status of trace metals in adrenal tissue is unresolved, while the elemental profile for any adrenal pathology has not been examined so far. This study aimed to determine the baseline status of important toxic (Ni, As, Cd, Pb, Th, U) and essential trace elements (Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se) in healthy adrenal tissues (HATs) as well as to examine whether there are alterations in the elemental composition of adenomatous adrenal tissues (AATs). Furthermore, this study aimed to find potential trace metals that could play a role in the pathogenesis of adrenal adenoma (AA).

Methods: The study included 45 patients diagnosed with AA. Impacts of relevant parameters such as gender, age, smoking habits and nodular sizes were considered. All samples were subjected to microwave digestion and the trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Results: This is the first study that provided an insight into the elemental status of HATs. It was also shown that AATs had altered trace metal contents. Compared to HATs, the most significant findings were related to the high content of essential (Cu, Mn, Se, Zn) and Pb as a non-essential metal. Although gender, age and smoking habits had a modest effect on metal profiles, the most significant alterations were related to the nodular diameter above 4 cm, indicating that the growth of benign tumor could influence changes in elemental composition.

Conclusion: For the first time the baseline contents of essential and toxic trace metals in HATs were determined. The results of this study may highlight the role of toxic and essential trace metals in AAs and could provide new insights into the molecular basis of pathophysiological changes caused by the hazardous effects of trace metals on adrenal structure and function.

Keywords: Adenomatous adrenal tissue (AAT); Adrenal adenoma (AA); Healthy adrenal tissue (HAT); Pathogenesis; Trace metals (toxic/essential).

MeSH terms

Adenoma / diagnostic imaging*
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
Adrenal Glands / chemistry*
Female
Humans
Male
Microwaves
Middle Aged
Trace Elements / analysis*

Substances

Trace Elements