Experimental evaluation of combined effect of chemical substances on the base of quantification of blood plasma proteins

Introduction. Modern methods for assessing the combined effects of chemicals include mathematical processing of data that does not take into account changes at the molecular level.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the combined effect of chemicals based on the quantification of blood plasma proteins in a biological model (using the example of aluminum oxide, hydrogen fluoride, and benzo(a)pyrene)

Materials and methods. Using chemical-analytical, statistical, proteomic, and bioinformatic analysis methods, an assessment of the combined effect of chemical substances was carried out in an experiment on Wistar rats.

Results. The combined action of aluminum oxide, hydrogen fluoride, and benz(a)pyrene causes disturbances at the molecular level, including activation of oxidative stress, changes in the regulation of intracellular processes, suppression of the activity of the cycle and cell functions. The combined action of the substances studied according to the criterion of changes in protein expression is assessed as synergistic. This indicates to an increase in the effect of the combined action of aluminum oxide, hydrogen fluoride, and benz(a)pyrene relative to their isolated exposure.

Limitations. The conducted study does not allow drawing final conclusions about the specifics of the combined action of the studied chemicals, since the method used has limitations in the number of identified proteins.

Conclusion. The established molecular effects of the combined action of the studied chemical substances (mainly of a synergistic nature) expand theoretical understanding of the mechanisms of their toxicity, approaches to early detection, and justification of measures to prevent risk-induced human health disorders.

Compliance with ethical standards. Experimental studies on a biological model were carried out in compliance with the requirements of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (ETS No. 123). The studies were approved by the Biomedical Ethics Committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (minutes of meeting No. 1 of 04.02.2021).

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: February 20, 2025 / Revised:  March 13, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: June 27, 2025

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