Genetic variation in EYA4 on the risk of noise-induced hearing loss in Chinese steelworks firm sample.
OBJECTIVE
Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most serious occupational diseases worldwide. It is caused by interactions between environmental and genetic factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the genetic susceptibility of the eye absent homolog 4 (EYA4) gene and the risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss in China.


METHODS
A case-control association study was carried out with 326 hearing loss cases and 326 controls matched with age and duration of noise exposure, drawn from a cohort of steel workers. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the EYA4 were selected and genotyped. Logistic regression was performed to analyse the main effect of genotypes and interactions between genotypes and individual/environmental factors adjusted for confounding factors. Moreover, generalised multiple dimensionality reduction was applied to further detect interaction among the 5 selected SNPs.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed that locus polymorphism of rs3813346 was associated with the risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss in the dominance model, the codominance model and the addictive model (p=0.004, 0.009 and 0.003, respectively). A significant interaction between rs9321402 and cumulative noise exposure was found (p=0.002). A significant main effect p value (p=0.006) was obtained in the high-level exposure group (cumulative noise exposure ≥98 dB(A)). Generalised multiple dimensionality reduction indicated that the combined interaction of the 2 loci-rs3813346 and rs9493627-significantly affected the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
The research suggests that EYA4 genetic variant and its interaction with noise levels may modify the susceptibility to develop noise-induced hearing loss in Chinese population.
Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Qiuyue
Q
Yang
Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Xiangrong
X
Xu
Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Jie
J
Jiao
National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Yuxin
Y
Zheng
Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Lihua
L
He
Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Shanfa
S
Yu
Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Guizhen
G
Gu
Wugang Institute for Occupational Health, Wugang, People's Republic of China.
Guoshun
G
Chen
Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Wenhui
W
Zhou
Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Hui
H
Wu
Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Yanhong
Y
Li
Wugang Institute for Occupational Health, Wugang, People's Republic of China.
Huanling
H
Zhang
Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Zengrui
Z
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D000072499:Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013232:Steel; D015534:Trans-Activators
C117736:EYA4 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D013232:Steel
EYA4 gene; Genetic Variability; Noise-Induced Hearing Loss