title: Cytokine network involvement in subjects exposed to benzene.
abstract: Benzene represents an ubiquitous pollutant both in the workplace and in the general environment. Health risk and stress posed by benzene have long been a concern because of the carcinogenic effects of the compound which was classified as a Group 1 carcinogen to humans and animals. There is a close correlation between leukemia, especially acute myeloid leukemia, and benzene exposure. In addition, exposure to benzene can cause harmful effects on immunological, neurological, and reproductive systems. Benzene can directly damage hematopoietic progenitor cells, which in turn could lead to apoptosis or may decrease responsiveness to cytokines and cellular adhesion molecules. Alternatively, benzene toxicity to stromal cells or mature blood cells could disrupt the regulation of hematopoiesis, including hematopoietic commitment, maturation, or mobilization, through the network of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. Today there is mounting evidence that benzene may alter the gene expression, production, or processing of several cytokines in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this review was to systematically analyze the published cases of cytokine effects on human benzene exposure, particularly hematotoxicity, and atopy, and on lungs.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy ; Policlinico Universitario, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola Lucia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3010-3815
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Minciullo
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences and Products for Health, University of Messina, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6492-7820
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarra
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8116-4821
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calapai
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy ; Institute of Clinical Physiology, IFC CNR, Messina Unit, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D001554:Benzene