RESUMO
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between genetic polymorphism of heat shock proteins 70 (HSP70) and susceptibility to occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL). Methods A total of 229 ONIHL workers were selected as the case group and 229 healthy workers with similar age, years of noise exposure, and noise exposure levels were selected as the control group using the case-control study method. Occupational health examinations were conducted on both groups, and peripheral blood of individuals was collected for DNA extraction. The genotypes of three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the HSP70 were detected using the MassArray system. Results The allele frequency distribution of HSP70 rs2227956, rs1043618, and rs1061581 in the control group was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (all P>0.05). The genotype and allele frequency distribution of rs2227956 was significantly different between the two groups (all P<0.05), while no significant difference was found for rs1043618 and rs1061581 (all P>0.05). After adjusting for age, years of noise exposure, individual noise exposure level, smoking, and drinking, individuals with AG and AG+GG genotypes of rs2227956 had a higher risk of ONIHL than those with AA genotype (all P<0.05). The risk of ONIHL was higher in individuals with G allele of rs2227956 than in those with A allele (P<0.05). No correlation was found between rs1043618 and rs1061581 polymorphisms and the risk of ONIHL (all P>0.05). Conclusion The rs2227956 polymorphism of the HSP70 gene is correlated with susceptibility to ONIHL in noise-exposed workers, and the G allele is a risk factor for ONIHL in this population.