Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41334396›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2025

Mercury exposure, epigenetic modifications, and genetic susceptibility: insights from molecular docking and population analysis.

Bakhtiyar Serik, Lyazzat E Shinetova, Natalya V Efimova, Saulemay A Bekeyeva, Balkiya M Abdrakhmanova, Aliya O Dauletova, Roza K Suleimenova, Nadiar M Mussin, Afshin Zare, Ramazon Safarzoda Sharoffidin and 1 more

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Article in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Bakhtiyar SerikMedical School, M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.
Lyazzat E ShinetovaPsychometric Laboratory, National Testing Center, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Natalya V EfimovaEast Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research, Angarsk, Russia.
Saulemay A BekeyevaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Balkiya M AbdrakhmanovaDepartment of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Aliya O DauletovaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Roza K SuleimenovaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Nadiar M MussinDepartment of General Surgery, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan.
Afshin ZareCollege of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ramazon Safarzoda SharoffidinDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Amin TamadonDepartment of Natural Sciences, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Mercury (Hg) is a major environmental contaminant and public health concern, particularly in industrial regions where metallurgical activities contribute to elevated Hg emissions. Genetic factors influencing susceptibility to mercury toxicity remain underexplored in Central Asia. This study investigated genetic predisposition to Hg accumulation and toxicity among residents of Temirtau, Kazakhstan. Methods: A total of 180 residents from Temirtau and 90 control participants were enrolled. Mercury concentrations were measured in blood and hair samples using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Dietary information was collected to identify major exposure routes. Genotyping for GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 (Ile105Val, rs1695), and GCLM (-588C/T, rs41303970) polymorphisms was performed using PCR and PCR-RFLP methods. Complementary molecular docking analyses were conducted to assess methylmercury (MeHg) interactions with key epigenetic regulators-DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), histone deacetylases (HDAC1-6), and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Results: Individuals carrying GSTM1-null and GCLM variant genotypes exhibited higher Hg accumulation and greater oxidative-stress susceptibility compared with wild-type carriers. Molecular docking revealed moderate binding affinity of MeHg within the catalytic domains of DNMT1 and HDAC isoforms, suggesting interference with DNA methylation and histone-modification processes. Although exposure levels were considerably lower than those in classical Minamata incidents, subclinical effects and genotype-environment interactions were evident. Discussion: These findings highlight oxidative stress and epigenetic dysregulation as potential mechanisms underlying interindividual variability in mercury toxicity. The integration of genetic and molecular-modeling approaches provides valuable insights for risk assessment and preventive strategies in populations chronically exposed to industrial pollutants.

Indexed as

Environmental ExposureEpigenesis, GeneticGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseMercuryAdultFemaleGenotypeHairHumansKazakhstanMaleMiddle AgedMolecular Docking SimulationMercuryenvironmental exposuregenetic polymorphismglutathione transferasemercurymining activitiespublic healthtoxicodynamicstoxicokinetics

Identifiers

PMID41334396
PMCPMC12665739

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.