title: Cellular and Soluble Inflammatory Markers in Induced Sputum of Composting Plant Workers.
abstract: Inflammatory processes, including respiratory symptoms, can be induced among workers in composting plants exposed to bioaerosols containing microorganisms and their compounds. We evaluated inflammatory processes in the lower respiratory tract via cellular and soluble mediator profiles in induced sputum (IS). IS samples of 140 current (35% smokers) and 49 former compost workers (29% smokers) as well as 29 white-collar workers (17% smokers) were collected and analyzed for the cell count and composition, and for soluble biomarkers. Significant differences between current and former compost workers and white-collar workers were detected for total cell count (p=0.0004), neutrophils (p=0.0045), sCD14 (p=0.008), and 8-isoprostane (p<0.0001). IS of non-smoking former compost workers showed lower concentrations of IL-8, total protein, immunoreactive MMP-9 and sCD14, compared with non-smoking current compost workers. 10.1% of the study population was suffering from chronic bronchitis with significant differences (p=0.018) between former compost workers (24.5%), current workers (5%), and white-collar workers (10.3%). Significantly lower IL-8 (p=0.0002), neutrophils (p=0.001), and MMP-9 (p=0.0023) values were measured in healthy subjects compared with subjects with chronic bronchitis. In conclusion, changes in lower airways were detected by analysis of biomarkers in IS of current exposed and, to a lesser extent, in IS of former compost workers. These effects are especially pronounced in subjects with chronic bronchitis.
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany, raulf@ipa-dguv.de.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Raulf
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Hoffmeyer
authors: V
authors: V
authors: van Kampen
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Deckert
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Brüning
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bünger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002452:Cell Count; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D016209:Interleukin-8; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D012987:Soil; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9