title: Biomarkers of systemic inflammation in farmers with musculoskeletal disorders; a plasma proteomic study.
abstract: Farmers have an increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) such as osteoarthritis of the hip, low back pain, and neck and upper limb complaints. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Work-related exposures and inflammatory responses might be involved. Our objective was to identify plasma proteins that differentiated farmers with MSD from rural referents.
  
  
  
  Plasma samples from 13 farmers with MSD and rural referents were included in the investigation. Gel based proteomics was used for protein analysis and proteins that differed significantly between the groups were identified by mass spectrometry.
  
  
  
  In total, 15 proteins differed significantly between the groups. The levels of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, haptoglobin, complement factor B, serotransferrin, one isoform of kininogen, one isoform of alpha-1-antitrypsin, and two isoforms of hemopexin were higher in farmers with MSD than in referents. On the other hand, the levels of alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, alpha-1B-glycoprotein, vitamin D- binding protein, apolipoprotein A1, antithrombin, one isoform of kininogen, and one isoform of alpha-1-antitrypsin were lower in farmers than in referents. Many of the identified proteins are known to be involved in inflammation.
  
  
  
  Farmers with MSD had altered plasma levels of protein biomarkers compared to the referents, indicating that farmers with MSD may be subject to a more systemic inflammation. It is possible that the identified differences of proteins may give clues to the biochemical changes occurring during the development and progression of MSD in farmers, and that one or several of these protein biomarkers might eventually be used to identify and prevent work-related MSD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University and Pain and Rehabilitation Center, Anaesthetics, Operations and Specialty Surgery Center, Region Östergötland, Linköping, SE-581 85, Sweden. bijar.ghafouri@liu.se.|Division of Neuro and Inflammation Science, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center, Heart and Medicine Center, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden. bijar.ghafouri@liu.se.
authors.forename: Bijar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghafouri
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University and Pain and Rehabilitation Center, Anaesthetics, Operations and Specialty Surgery Center, Region Östergötland, Linköping, SE-581 85, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Region Kronoberg, Växjö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology Sections, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thelin
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro and Inflammation Science, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center, Heart and Medicine Center, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tagesson
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D000067565:Farmers; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Farmers; Musculoskeletal disorder; Occupational medicine; Proteomic; Systemic inflammation