Brozou Anastasia, Mannino Marcello A, Van Malderen Stijn J M, Garrevoet Jan, Pubert Eric, Fuller Benjamin T, Dean M Christopher, Colard Thomas, Santos Frédéric, Lynnerup Niels, Boldsen Jesper L, Jørkov Marie Louise, Soficaru Andrei Dorian, Vincze Laszlo, Le Cabec Adeline
Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Aarhus University, Moesgård Allé 20, 8270 Højbjerg, Denmark.
Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Biology (Basel). 2023 Jan 25;12(2):184. doi: 10.3390/biology12020184.
Leprosy can lead to blood depletion in Zn, Ca, Mg, and Fe and blood enrichment in Cu. In late medieval Europe, minerals were used to treat leprosy. Here, physiological responses to leprosy and possible evidence of treatment are investigated in enamel, dentine, and cementum of leprosy sufferers from medieval Denmark (n = 12) and early 20th century Romania (n = 2). Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS, 12 elements were mapped in 15 tooth thin sections, and the statistical covariation of paired elements was computed to assess their biological relevance. The results show marked covariations in the Zn, Ca, and Mg distributions, which are compatible with clinical studies but cannot be directly attributed to leprosy. Minerals used historically as a treatment for leprosy show no detectable intake (As, Hg) or a diffuse distribution (Pb) related to daily ingestion. Intense Pb enrichments indicate acute incorporations of Pb, potentially through the administration of Pb-enriched medication or the mobilization of Pb from bone stores to the bloodstream during intense physiological stress related to leprosy. However, comparisons with a healthy control group are needed to ascertain these interpretations. The positive correlations and the patterns observed between Pb and essential elements may indicate underlying pathophysiological conditions, demonstrating the potential of SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS for paleopathological investigations.
麻风病会导致血液中锌、钙、镁和铁含量减少，而铜含量增加。在中世纪晚期的欧洲，矿物质被用于治疗麻风病。在此，我们对来自中世纪丹麦（n = 12）和20世纪初罗马尼亚（n = 2）的麻风病患者的牙釉质、牙本质和牙骨质中对麻风病的生理反应及可能的治疗证据进行了研究。使用同步辐射X射线荧光光谱法（SXRF）和激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱法（LA-ICP-TOFMS），对15个牙齿薄片中的12种元素进行了图谱绘制，并计算了成对元素的统计协变，以评估它们的生物学相关性。结果显示，锌、钙和镁的分布存在明显的协变，这与临床研究结果相符，但不能直接归因于麻风病。历史上用于治疗麻风病的矿物质，未检测到摄入情况（砷、汞），或与日常摄入相关的弥散分布（铅）。强烈的铅富集表明铅的急性摄入，可能是通过服用富含铅的药物，或者在与麻风病相关的强烈生理应激期间，铅从骨储存中动员到血液中。然而，需要与健康对照组进行比较，以确定这些解释。铅与必需元素之间观察到的正相关和模式可能表明潜在的病理生理状况，这证明了SXRF和LA-ICP-TOFMS在古病理学研究中的潜力。
