Arsenic binding proteins in cardiovascular human tissues

The danger of as for human health is associated with cancer and non-cancer effects; apart from that its genotoxicity is broadly reported.1 However also a certain essential character had to be assigned to As, in this case, experiments with mammalian model species,2–4 not associated to enzymes. Up to date no metalloprotein of as carrying out some biochemical functionality has been isolated or characterised. The essentiality of as in humans is controversial, being this element able to destroy cell structures, which may benefit or not human health.5,6 Perhaps, the most remarkable threat to human health is cancer, and the most beneficial effect of As2O3 in the treatment of leukaemia is the programmed cellular suicide or apoptosis.7– 9