Serum levels of TGF-β1 and MCP-1 as biomarkers for progressive coal workers' pneumoconiosis in retired coal workers: a three-year follow-up study.
Various cytokines activated by the inhalation of coal dust may mediate inflammation and lead to tissue damage. Objective of this study was to examine the relationships between coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) progression over a 3 yr period and the serum levels of cytokines in 85 retired coal workers. To investigate the relevance of serum cytokines in CWP, serum levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) as progressive CWP biomarkers were studied in relation to the progression of pneumoconiosis over a 3 yr period in 85 patients with CWP. CWP progression was evaluated through paired comparisons of chest radiographs. Median levels of TGF-β1 and MCP-1 were significantly higher in subjects with progressive CWP than in those without CWP progression. The area under the ROC curve for TGF-β1 (0.693) and MCP-1 (0.653) indicated that these cytokines could serve as biomarkers for the progression of CWP. Serum TGF-β1 levels were related to the progression of CWP (β=0.247, p=0.016). The results suggest that high serum levels of TGF-β1 and MCP-1 are associated with the progression of CWP.
Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, Republic of Korea.
Jong Seong
JS
Lee
Jae Hoon
JH
Shin
Kyung Myung
KM
Lee
Ju-Hwan
JH
Hwang
Jin Ee
JE
Baek
Ji Hong
JH
Kim
Byung-Soon
BS
Choi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055008:Anthracosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D011859:Radiography; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013147:Spirometry; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014797:Vital Capacity
D015415:Biomarkers; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016209:Interleukin-8; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha