Detection of p53 protein in induced sputum after occupational exposure to crystalline silica.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the possibility of detecting p53 protein in the supernatant of induced sputum (IS) of workers exposed to crystalline silica.


METHODS
Personal interviews were used to obtain demographic data, occupational and exposure histories, and health habits of the study participants. Sputum samples were collected from all subjects.


RESULTS
The all-male study cohort included 35 workers (mean age 43.8 years) exposed to silica and 7 unexposed workers (34.7 years, P < 0.05). The mean duration of exposure was 13.4 years, and the range of exposure levels to silica was 0.02 to 0.33 ppm. The mean level of p53 protein was higher in the exposed group compared with in the unexposed group (76.47 pg/mL and 62.43 pg/mL, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
p53 may serve as a biomarker to identify workers at high risk for developing pulmonary malignancies. IS can detect p53 protein in sputum.
Shaham
Judith
J
Medical Department of Civil Servants District Health Office, Tel Aviv Ministry of Health, Israel. yshaham@bezeqint.net
Fireman
Elizabeth
E
Korenstein-Ilan
Avital
A
Lerman
Yehuda
Y
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009675:Novobiocin / Q000506:poisoning*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D013183:Sputum; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D009675:Novobiocin