title: Biomarkers for lung epithelium injury in occupational hexavalent chromium-exposed workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether Club (Clara) cell protein (CC16) and surfactant-associated protein D (SP-D) can be used as biomarkers for lung injury caused by chromium exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentrations of chromium in the air (CrA), chromium in the blood (CrB), lung function, CC16, SP-D, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected in 91 chromium-exposed workers and 38 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In chromium-exposed group, the levels of CrA, CrB, SP-D, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly higher, whereas forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, maximal expiratory flow (MEF), maximum ventilation volume (MVV), CC16, and CC16/SP-D were lower. Negative correlations were shown between CC16, SP-D or CC16/SP-D, and CrB or inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). Positive relationships were shown between CC16 or CC16/SP-D with indicators of lung function. Tobacco smoking and chromium exposure had synergic effects on lung injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CC16, as an immunosuppressive protein, and CC16/SP-D can be used as sensitive and noninvasive biomarkers for lung injury. Smoking should be banned in chromium workplaces.
authors: From the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Science (Ms P Li, Mr Y Li, and Ms G Jia), School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing City; Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Mr Zhang), Jinan City, Shandong Province; Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention (Mr Yu), Zhengzhou City, Henan Province; and Key Laboratory of Occupational and Environmental Hazards Prevention (Ms P Li, Mr Tong, and Mr Hu), Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin City, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Ji
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Shan Fa
authors: SF
authors: Yu
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Tong
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Hu
authors: Guang
authors: G
authors: Jia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000097:blood*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; C556389:SCGB1A1 protein, human; C439524:TNF protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D014598:Uteroglobin