title: mRNA expression levels among cell regulatory and DNA damage genes in benzene-exposed workers in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated how cells respond to the induction of DNA damage, focusing specifically on mRNA expression levels of cell regulatory and DNA repair genes under exposure to benzene.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample was classified into three groups: direct exposure to benzene (A), indirect exposure to benzene (B), and non-exposed (C). Concentrations of benzene in the air of workplaces were monitored. Further blood biochemical parameters, cell cycle-regulated and DNA damage-related genes expression were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA expression levels of Apel, Rad51, Bcl-2, Bax, Xpa, and Xpc genes were significantly down-regulated in groups A and B, with a dramatic up-regulation of p21 gene in group A accompanied by significantly lower counts of white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets and lymphocyte subsets of CD8+, CD4+, T and B cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that exposure to benzene had significantly altered mRNA expression of some critical cell regulatory and DNA repair genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yun-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Jun-Xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Pin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yiliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Zhao-Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000073861:Apelin; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002681:China; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D051760:Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C115436:APLN protein, human; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000073861:Apelin; C494826:BAX protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497314:XPA protein, human; D051760:Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C086984:XPC protein, human; C495153:RAD51 protein, human; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; D001554:Benzene