ETHANOL, LEAD, AND BENZENE INHIBITION OF RABBIT RETICULOCYTE HEME AND PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS - INCREASED INVITRO TOXICITY IN IRON-DEFICIENT CELLS

Not all people exposed to the same level of a hematological toxin will develop clinical problems. Since there is an almost infinite combination of both exogenous and endogenous factors which might increase susceptibility to a toxin, it is only practical to test these variables through the use of well-defined in vitro systems. In the present study we studied the inhibitory effect of ethanol (0.1 m), lead (1 × 10-4 m), and benzene (0.1 m) on in vitro rabbit reticulocyte protein and heme synthesis, in iron-repleted and iron-depleted cells. The data clearly demonstrate that there is greater inhibition of total protein and heme synthesis by any one of these agents in iron-depleted cells. The inhibition with any of these inhibitors is additive with that of iron depletion. It appears, therefore, that people with iron deficiency might be at greater risk to develop hematological toxicity when exposed to ethanol, lead, or benzene. © 1979.