Objective: To explore the changes and influencing factors about expressions of tumor-related gene mRNA in workers who smelt arsenic.
Methods: There were 37 workers who smelt arsenic, 43 workers who stopped exposure to arsenic for 85 days, and 51 individuals as control group which selected by random cluster sampling. Arsenic species( iAs, MMA, and DMA) in urine were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer with an As speciation pretreatment system. Real time PCR( RT-PCR)was performed to detect the expressions of 4 tumor-related gene mRNAs.
Results: The concentrations of iAs, MMA and DMA in urine of workers who smelt arsenic, stopped exposure to arsenic for 85 days, and control group were( 133. 97 ± 109. 53), ( 208. 93 ±171. 43) and( 820. 35 ± 487. 39) μg/( g·creatinine)( workers who smelt arsenic), ( 123. 31 ± 112. 72), ( 176. 21 ± 157. 19) and( 467. 73 ± 392. 17) μg/( g·creatinine)( workers who stopped exposure to arsenic), ( 1. 55 ±1. 49), ( 0. 10 ±0. 09) and( 10. 47 ±7. 85) μg/( g·creatinine)( control group). Compared to control group, the concentrations of 3 arsenic species were all higher in worker came from arsenic smelting. Compared to workers who were smelting arsenic, DMA are lower in workers who stopped exposure to arsenic for 85 days( P < 0. 05). The relative mRNA expressions of Lin28, Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas in 3 groups were( 8. 88 ± 2. 42), ( 6. 87 ± 1. 10), ( 7. 24 ± 2. 31) and( 8. 23 ±2. 90)( workers who smelt arsenic), ( 6. 21 ± 2. 94), ( 5. 81 ± 1. 72), ( 4. 50 ± 1. 59)and( 6. 89 ± 2. 35)( workers who stopped exposure to arsenic), ( 5. 60 ± 1. 43), ( 5. 56 ±0. 98), ( 4. 88 ± 1. 39) and( 6. 92 ± 1. 87)( control group). Compared to control group, relative mRNA expressions of Lin28, Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas were all higher in worker who were smelting arsenic( P < 0. 05).
Conclusion: The expressions of tumor-related gene mRNAs are high in workers who smelt arsenic, and the methylation metabolism of arsenic play great role in the process of relative mRNAs expresses.
Keywords: arsenic smelting; mRNA; occupational exposure; tumor-related gene.