Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 detection in the serum of persons exposed to asbestos: A patient-based study.
Exposure to asbestos results in serious risk of developing lung and mesothelial diseases. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can be used to diagnose asbestos exposure. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the levels or detection rate of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) in the serum are elevated in persons exposed to asbestos. The primary study group consisted of 76 healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos and 172 healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The secondary study group consisted of 535 subjects possibly exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with pleural plaque (412), benign hydrothorax (10), asbestosis (86), lung cancer (17), and malignant mesothelioma (10). All study subjects who were possibly exposed to asbestos had a certificate of asbestos exposure issued by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. For the primary study group, levels of serum CCL3 did not differ between the two groups. However, the detection rate of CCL3 in the serum of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos (30.2%) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than for the control group (6.6%). The pleural plaque, benign hydrothorax, asbestosis, and lung cancer groups had serum CCL3 levels and detection rates similar to that of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The CCL3 chemokine was detected in the serum of 9 of the 10 patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Three of the patients with malignant mesothelioma had exceptionally high CCL3 levels. Malignant mesothelioma cells from four biopsy cases and an autopsy case were positive for CCL3, possibly identifying the source of the CCL3 in the three malignant mesothelioma patients with exceptionally high serum CCL3 levels. In conclusion, a significantly higher percentage of healthy persons possibly exposed to asbestos had detectable levels of serum CCL3 compared to healthy unexposed control subjects.
Nanotoxicology Project, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.|Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Jiegou
J
Xu
Nanotoxicology Project, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
David B
DB
Alexander
Nanotoxicology Project, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
Masaaki
M
Iigo
Nutritional Science Institute, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan.
Hirokazu
H
Hamano
Department of Experimental Pathology and Tumor Biology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Satoru
S
Takahashi
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Asahi Rosai Hospital, Owariasahi, Japan.
Takako
T
Yokoyama
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Asahi Rosai Hospital, Owariasahi, Japan.
Munehiro
M
Kato
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Asahi Rosai Hospital, Owariasahi, Japan.
Ikuji
I
Usami
Department of Internal Medicine, Saiseikai Chuwa Hospital, Sakura, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Tokuyama
Department of Pathology, Saiseikai Chuwa Hospital, Sakura, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Tsutsumi
Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Nara, Japan.
Mouka
M
Tamura
Diivision of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Rheumatology, Nagoya City University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
Tetsuya
T
Oguri
Diivision of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Rheumatology, Nagoya City University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
Akio
A
Niimi
Department of Medicine, Nagoya-Shi Koseiin Medical Welfare Center, Nagoya, Japan.
Yoshimitsu
Y
Hayashi
Department of Medicine, Nagoya-Shi Koseiin Medical Welfare Center, Nagoya, Japan.
Yoshifumi
Y
Yokoyama
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nagoya-Shi Koseiin Medical Welfare Center, Nagoya, Japan.
Ken
K
Tonegawa
Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Katsumi
K
Fukamachi
Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Mitsuru
M
Futakuchi
Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Yuto
Y
Sakai
Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Masumi
M
Suzui
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Michihiro
M
Kamijima
Center for Campus Health and Environment, Aichi University of Education, Kariya, Japan.
Naomi
N
Hisanaga
Department of Health Care Policy and Management, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Toyonori
T
Omori
Department of Nutritional Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Applied Biosciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan.
Dai
D
Nakae
Division of Risk Assessment, Biological Safety Research Center, Biological Safety Research Center, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
Akihiko
A
Hirose
Division of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Biological Safety Research Center, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
Jun
J
Kanno
Nanotoxicology Project, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Tsuda
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054405:Chemokine CCL3 / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C515429:CCL3 protein, human; D002273:Carcinogens; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D001194:Asbestos
Asbestos; Environmental carcinogens; biological markers; chemokine CCL3; mesothelioma