Biomarkers for early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis in coal workers / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore biomarkers for early auxiliary diagnosis of pneumoconiosis in coal workers(CWP) and its clinical significance. METHODS: Sixty-nine male coal miners exposed to dust were selected as control group, and sixty-seven CWP male patients were chosen as CWP group by purposive sampling method. Serum samples were collected from subjects of the two groups. The levels of malonaldehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were determined by colorimetric method. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the level of interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α). The acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity was determined by modified Ellman method. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of CWP. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was established to analyze the sensitive indicators in the pathogenesis of CWP. RESULTS: The serum SOD activity decreased(median 65.1 vs 59.2 kU/L, P<0.05), and the MDA, IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased in the CWP group(median 4.92 vs 6.68 μmol/L, 129.82 vs 163.18 ng/L, 63.90 vs 70.93 ng/L, P<0.05) compared with the control group. The logistic regression analysis results showed that AChE was the protective factor of CWP, while age, chronic respiratory symptoms, IL-6 and MDA were the risk factors of CWP(P<0.05). The ROC curve showed that IL-6 and MDA can be used as early indicators for the diagnosis of CWP in dust-exposed workers. CONCLUSION: The serum IL-6 and MDA levels can be used as biomarkers for early auxiliary diagnosis of CWP.