OBJECTIVES This study was performed in order to investigate the frequency of the TNF2 allele in patients with coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP). METHODS We compared the genotype distribution of TNFalpha gene promoter polymorphism between 80 CWP patients and 54 healthy controls. RESULTS The results were as follows : 1. The rare allele TNF2 was significantly more frequent in CWP patients (20.6 %) than in controls (10.2 %). 2. The spontaneous or LPS-induced release of TNFalpha from the peripheral monocytes was slightly increased in the TNF2 group, but these values were not significantly different between groups. 3. In the CWP TNF2 group, the increase of LPS-induced TNFalpha release was significant in comparison with that of the controls. CONCLUSIONS From the above results, we suggest that the TNF2 allele is strongly associated with susceptibility to CWP development.
Many acute and chronic lung diseased including pneumoconiosis are characterized by the presence of increased numbers of activated macrophages. These macrophages generate several inflammatory cell chemoattractants, by which neutrophil migrate from vascular compartment to the alveolar space. Recruited neutrophils secrete toxic oxygen radicals or proteolytic enzymes and induce inflammatory response. Continuing inflammatory response results in alteration of the pulmonary structure and irreversible fibrosis. Recently, a polypeptide with specific neutrophil chemotactic activity, interleukin-8 (IL-8), has been cloned and isolated from a number of cells such as: monocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. IL-1 and/or TNF-alpha preceded for the synthesis of IL-8, and we already observed high level of IL-1 and TNF-alpha in vivo experiments. So we hypothesized that IL-8 might play a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. In order to evaluate the clinical utility of IL-1, IL-8, TNF as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, we investigated the increase of IL-1, 8, TNF in the pneumoconiotic patient and the significant (p<0.05) correlation between IL-8 level and progression of pneumoconiosis.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
The Effects of Air-borne Particulate Matters on the Alveolar Macrophages for the TNF-α and IL-1β Secretion Tian Zhu Li, Soo-Jin Lee, Se-Jong Park, Byung-Joon Chang, Jong-Hwan Lee, Kil-Soo Kim, Myoung-Heon Lee, Nong-Hoon Choe Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.2006; 60(5): 554. CrossRef