Biochemical markers of basement membrane disturbances and occupational exposure to hydrocarbons and mixed solvents.
To investigate possible mechanisms of hydrocarbon or solvent-induced renal damage, we studied three groups of healthy men employed in a UK manufacturing plant. Group 1 (n = 111) were occupationally exposed to hydrocarbon-based paints, Group 2 (n = 100) were occupationally exposed to petroleum-based mineral oils, and Group 3 (n = 92) had low background occupational exposure to hydrocarbons. Occupational atmospheric exposure levels for toluene, xylene, butanol and oil mist around the time of this study were within UK permissible limits. Group 4 (controls) were males with no known occupational hydrocarbon or solvent exposure (n = 108). Circulating laminin antibodies and the auto-antibody implicated in Goodpasture's syndrome (anti-GBM) were measured, as were serum laminin, a basement membrane turnover marker, and soluble E-selectin, an endothelial activation marker. Group 1 had a significantly greater proportion of subjects with high levels of both anti-laminin antibodies and soluble E-selectin; Group 2 had significantly more subjects with raised anti-GBM antibodies, laminin and soluble E-selectin. Mean levels of soluble E-selectin were increased in Groups 1 and 2. In a small but significant proportion of these workers exposed to hydrocarbons/mixed solvents there are alterations both to basement membranes, resulting in auto-antibody production, and to overlying vascular endothelial cells.
Stevenson
A
A
Biomedical Sciences Group, Health and Safety Laboratory, Sheffield, UK.
Yaqoob
M
M
Mason
H
H
Pai
P
P
Bell
G M
GM
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007797:Laminin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000906:Antibodies; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007797:Laminin; D010578:Petroleum; D012997:Solvents; C051951:antiglomerular basement membrane antibody