title: Alterations of serum biomarkers associated with lung ventilation function impairment in coal workers: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have demonstrated that alterations in certain circulating biomarkers may be correlated with Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). This study investigated the relationship between changes of serum biomarkers and pulmonary function during the development of CWP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung function parameters and specific serum indices were measured in 69 non-smoking coal workers, including 34 miners with CWP, 24 asymptomatic miners and 11 miners with minimal symptoms. The associations between changes in pulmonary function and serum indices were tested with Pearson's correlation coefficients. Multivariable analysis was used to estimate the predictive power of potential determinant variables for lung function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy miners, lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEF50, FEF75, FEF25-75 % of predicted values) was decreased in miners with CWP (p < 0.05). Increased serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was associated with decreased FVC% of predicted values in the asymptomatic miners (r = -0.503, p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In coal mine workers, alterations of lung function parameters are associated with the development of CWP and with changes in circulating MMP-9, TIMP-9, IL-13 and IL-18R. These serum biomarkers may likely reflect the pathogenesis and progression of CWP in coal workers, and may provide for the importance of serum indicators in the early diagnosis of lung function injury in coal miners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Attached Kai Luan Hospital of North China Coal Medical College, Tangshan, China.
authors.forename: Jimin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Xianming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: du Prel Carroll
authors.forename: Xianhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Baojun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leeper-Woodford
mesh_terms: D055008:Anthracosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China; D003032:Coal Mining; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9