Gene expression profiling in the lung tissue of cynomolgus  monkeys in response to repeated exposure to welding fumes.
Many in the welding industry suffer from bronchitis, lung function changes, metal fume fever, and diseases related to respiratory damage. These phenomena are associated with welding fumes; however, the mechanism behind these findings remains to be elucidated. In this study, the lungs of cynomolgus monkeys were exposed to MMA-SS welding fumes for 229 days and allowed to recover for 153 days. After the exposure and recovery period, gene expression profiles were investigated using the Affymetrix GeneChip Human U133 plus 2.0. In total, it was confirmed that 1,116 genes were up-or downregulated (over 2-fold changes, P\0.01) for the T1 (31.4 ± 2.8 mg/m3) and T2 (62.5 ± 2.7 mg/m3) dose groups. Differentially expressed genes in the exposure and recovery groups were analyzed, based on hierarchical clustering, and were imported into Ingenuity Pathways Analysis to analyze the biological and toxicological functions. Functional analysis identified genes involved in immunological disease in both groups. Additionally, differentially expressed genes in common between monkeys and rats following welding fume exposure were compared using microarray data, and the gene expression of selected genes was verified by real-time PCR. Genes such as CHI3L1, RARRES1, and CTSB were up-regulated and genes such as CYP26B1, ID4, and NRGN were down-regulated in both monkeys and rats following welding fume exposure. This is the first comprehensive gene expression profiling conducted for welding fume exposure in monkeys, and these expressed genes are expected to be useful in helping to understand transcriptional changes in monkey lungs after welding fume exposure.
Heo
Jeong-Doo
JD
Division of Inhalation Toxicology, KIT Jeongeup Campus, 1051, Shinjeong-dong, Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.
Oh
Jung-Hwa
JH
Lee
Kyuhong
K
Kim
Choong Yong
CY
Song
Chang-Woo
CW
Yoon
Seokjoo
S
Han
Jin Soo
JS
Yu
Il Je
IJ
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013232:Steel / Q000633:toxicity*; D014896:Welding
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013232:Steel