Differential gene expression associated with inflammation in peripheral blood cells of patients with pneumoconiosis.
OBJECTIVE
To study expression changes in inflammation-related genes in peripheral blood of patients with pneumoconiosis and to explore the possibility of these genes as pneumoconiosis biomarkers.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples of patients with pneumoconiosis patients and controls were collected, and total RNA of the blood cells were extracted and reverse transcribed to cDNA. Screenings of deferentially expressed genes associated with inflammation between patients with pneumoconiosis and controls were performed using real-time quantitative PCR array and the expressions of the three most upregulated genes were confirmed by real-time PCR.


RESULTS
The expression of 11 genes was significantly altered in patients with pneumoconiosis compared with those of the control. Among these 11 genes, 8 genes were upregulated and 3 were downregulated. Preliminary results indicated that interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA expression in patients with pneumoconiosis was higher than that in controls (P=0.019). The level of IL6 mRNA expression in the patients was higher than that in non-smoking controls, but it was neither affected by type and stage of pneumoconiosis nor by time of contact with dust.


CONCLUSIONS
IL6 was possibly involved in the development of pneumoconiosis.
The Second Clinical Medical College, Nanchang University.
Shu-Jun
SJ
Liu
Ping
P
Wang
Jie
J
Jiao
Lin
L
Han
Yu-Min
YM
Lu
D000328:Adult; D055008:Anthracosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003032:Coal Mining; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
D015415:Biomarkers; D004391:Dust; D005819:Genetic Markers; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger