Division of Environmental Genetics and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Environmental Health, Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
J Occup Environ Med. 2012 Jul;54(7):774-80. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31825296bc.
Firefighters (FFs) are chronically exposed to smoke and products of incomplete combustion, which frequently contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study examined the possibility of an association between PAH-induced epigenetic alterations and occupational firefighting exposure.
Promoter methylation was analyzed in four genes in blood DNA from 18 FFs and 20 non-FFs (controls). Jurkat and human normal prostate epithelial cells were treated with benzo[a]pyrene to ascertain the epigenetic effects of this type of agent.
Firefighters had a higher prevalence of dual specificity phosphatase 22-promoter hypomethylation in blood DNA (P = 0.03) and the extent of hypomethylation correlated with duration of firefighting service (P = 0.04) but not with age. Benzo[a]pyrene reduced promoter methylation and increased gene expression of the same gene in Jurkat and normal prostate epithelial cells.
Cumulative occupational exposure to combustion-derived PAHs during firefighting can cause epigenetic changes in promoters of specific genes.
消防员长期接触烟雾和不完全燃烧产物,其中常含有多环芳烃(PAHs)。本研究探讨了 PAH 引起的表观遗传改变与职业消防暴露之间可能存在的关联。
分析了 18 名消防员和 20 名非消防员(对照组)血液 DNA 中四个基因的启动子甲基化。用苯并[a]芘处理 Jurkat 和人正常前列腺上皮细胞,以确定此类物质的表观遗传效应。
消防员血液 DNA 中双特异性磷酸酶 22 启动子低甲基化的发生率更高(P = 0.03),低甲基化程度与消防服务年限相关(P = 0.04),但与年龄无关。苯并[a]芘降低了 Jurkat 和正常前列腺上皮细胞中同一基因的启动子甲基化程度,并增加了基因表达。
在消防过程中累积的职业性接触燃烧衍生的 PAHs 可能会导致特定基因启动子的表观遗传改变。