Plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 in patients with silicosis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Silicosis is usually recognized at later stages of the disease, and early biomarkers for silicosis will be useful for timely diagnosis. We aimed at examining plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9, and correlation between these, in patients with different stages of silicosis in order to test suitability of these inflammatory factors as early biomarkers for silicosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

TNF-α and MMP-9 were quantified by ELISA in plasma specimens from 30 healthy individuals (control group), 28 individuals exposed to silica dust but without clinical disease, and 30 patients with silicosis.

RESULTS:

Plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 were increased in individuals exposed to silica dust (p < 0.05 vs. control individuals) and were further elevated in patients with silicosis (p < 0.05 vs. control individuals and individuals exposed to silica dust). There was a significant correlation between plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 both in individuals exposed to silica dust (r = 0.696, p < 0.01) and patients with silicosis (r = 0.768, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 are increased prior to development of clinically recognized silicosis, suggesting that these biomarkers are involved in the onset and development of silicosis. Combined detection of TNF-α and MMP-9 may be useful for early diagnosis of silicosis.

• Authors: P-R Jiang, Z Cao, Z-L Qiu, J-W Pan, N Zhang, Y-F Wu
• Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci) Vol. 19 Issue 9 Pg. 1716-20 ( 2015) ISSN: 2284-0729 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 26004615 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Topics

• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Silicosis (blood, diagnosis)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood)