P53 autoantibodies as a predictor for potential cadmium carcinogenecity in exposed workers

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this study was to determine whether cadmium [Cd] exposurecould elevate serum p53 autoantibodies in order to assess the potentialcarcinogenicity of Cd among occupationally exposed workers. Forty maleworkers employed in a dry battery factory in Cairo [27 smokers and 13 nonsmokers] represented a model population for this study to be compared witha control group of 50 unexposed nonsmoker healthy persons matched according toage and sex. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for the assessment ofserum p53 autoantibodies and blood Cd concentrations. Meanwhile, Cd concentrations in air in different areas of the factory were determined. Thestudy revealed a significant association between Cd concentration in theenvironment and the blood of the exposed workers with the highest levelsobtained in workers of the production area [11.128 +/- 2.135 mug/dl]. The integrated index for Cd exposure was insignificantly higher in smoker workerscompared with the nonsmokers incriminating passive smoking as source of Cd exposure in working places. Moreover, the study revealed a significant higher p53 autoimmune index in Cd exposed workers [2.206 +/- 0.069] compared withthe control subjects [0.144 +/- 0.016]. In addition, p53 autoimmune indexwas significantly higher in smoker compared with nonsmoker Cd exposed workersand both had significantly higher p53 autoimmune index compared with controls. Additionally, an association was found between integrated index for Cd exposure and p53 autoimmune index