Antioxidant Defense: Key Mechanism of Lead Intolerance

Lead (Pb)Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metalHeavy metal that can have significant adverse effects on human and animal health, especially when exposure occurs at high levels or over prolonged periods. The harmful health effects of lead are well-documented, and even low-level exposureExposure can be dangerous. Its contaminated natural sources are mining and smelting operations, paints containing lead, paper and pulp, petrol and explosives, as well as the dumping of sewage sludge that has been enriched with lead from municipal sewage systems. The reproductive, neurological, immunological, cardiovascular, and other systems as well as developmental processes are negatively impacted by its interactions with biomolecules. Pb reacts with the sulfhydryl groups on enzymes to decrease their activity at the cellular level. Reactive oxygen speciesReactive oxygen species (ROS)ROS are known to be produced more frequently as a result of oxidative stressOxidative stress caused by lead. AntioxidantsAntioxidants defenses to lead toxicityLead toxicity may constitute different strategies. The first step is to either prevent lead from entering the cell by excluding it or to bind lead to the cell wall and other ligands, such as organic acids, amino acids, and glutathione, to render them harmless at the initial stage of lead entrance. One of the main detoxifying pathways for Pb is cell wall binding. Secondary defense system constitutes several antioxidants to fight against increased ROSROS production caused by lead.