Changes of tumor necrosis factor, surfactant protein A, and phospholipids in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the development and progression of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the alterations of biomarkers in the development and progression of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP).


METHODS
The type and number of cells, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), pulmonary surfactant protein, phospholipids and fibronectin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assayed in 14 health active coal miners, 21 coal miners without CWP and 13 miners with CWP of 0/1 to 1/1.


RESULTS
Compared to active coal miners without CWP (8.23 microg/mL), TNF-alpha concentration was gradually decreased when dust exposure was stopped (5.90 microg/mL). Elevated surfactant protein A (SP-A) level and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) to phosphatidylinositol (PI) ratio were found in miners actively exposed to coal dust (6528 ng/mL for SP-A and 10. for PG/PI), and both parameters decreased when CWP progressed from CWP (0/1) (3419 microg/mL for SP-A and 5.9 for PG/PI) to CWP (1/1) (1654 microg/mL for SP-A and 5.5 for PG/PI).


CONCLUSIONS
Biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can be used to screen coal miners at high risk of developing coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
Xing
Jing-Cai
JC
Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
Chen
Wei-Hong
WH
Han
Wen-Hui
WH
Guo
Mei-Feng
MF
Rehn
Steffeni
S
Bruch
Joachim
J
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003032:Coal Mining; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D010743:Phospholipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha