Laboratory of Medical Toxicology (TOXIMED), Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Earth and Universe (SNV-STU), Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria.
PPABIONUT Laboratory, Physiology, Physiopathology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Earth and Universe (SNV-STU), Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2020 Jul;93(5):553-561. doi: 10.1007/s00420-019-01509-1. Epub 2019 Dec 23.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a group of Algerian welders to study the relationship between the exposure to metal particles from welding fumes and the concentration of three circulating miRNAs, miR-21, miR-146a and miR-155, as markers of renal function injury.
Characteristics of the subjects and the curriculum laboris were determined by questionnaires. We measured the concentrations of metals in blood and urine samples using ICP-MS. The three circulating miRNAs studied were measured by quantitative PCR. Associations between miRNAs and internal exposure markers were assessed by simple and multiple regression analyses.
miR-21 was significantly lower among welders (p = 0.017), compared with controls, adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking status and seniority. Significant adjusted associations were observed between miR-21 or miR-155 and urinary chromium (p = 0.005 or p = 0.041, respectively), miR-146a and urinary nickel (p = 0.019). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that duration of employment was the main factor responsible for the variation of miRNAs among welders.
In conclusion, a recent exposure to certain metals, mainly chromium and nickel, appears to be associated to a decrease in plasma expression of miR-21, miR-146a and miR-155. Further larger studies would help to determine the mechanisms of action of metal particles on miRNA expression.
本研究通过对一组阿尔及利亚焊工进行横断面研究，旨在探讨金属颗粒（来自焊接烟尘）暴露与三种循环 miRNA（miR-21、miR-146a 和 miR-155）浓度之间的关系，这三种 miRNA 可作为肾功能损伤的标志物。
通过问卷调查确定研究对象的特征和劳动课程。采用 ICP-MS 测定血和尿样中的金属浓度。采用实时定量 PCR 测定研究的三种循环 miRNA。采用简单和多元回归分析评估 miRNA 与内暴露标志物之间的关联。
与对照组相比，焊工组的 miR-21 显著降低（p=0.017），校正年龄、体重指数、吸烟状况和工龄后仍如此。miR-21 或 miR-155 与尿铬（p=0.005 或 p=0.041），miR-146a 与尿镍（p=0.019）之间存在显著的调整后关联。多元分析的结果表明，就业年限是焊工之间 miRNA 变异的主要因素。
总之，近期接触某些金属（主要是铬和镍）似乎与血浆中 miR-21、miR-146a 和 miR-155 表达的降低有关。进一步的大规模研究将有助于确定金属颗粒对 miRNA 表达的作用机制。
