ABSTRACT: We identified and validated characteristic miRNA expression profiles of human whole blood in workers exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and compared the usefulness of miRNA indicator of VOCs with the effectiveness of the already used urinary biomarkers of occupational exposure.
Project description:We identified and validated characteristic miRNA expression profiles of human whole blood in workers exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and compared the usefulness of miRNA indicator of VOCs with the effectiveness of the already used urinary biomarkers of occupational exposure. Using a microarray based approach, we screened and detected deregulated miRNAs in their expression in workers exposed to VOCs (toluene [TOL], xylene [XYL] and ethylbenzene [EBZ]). Total 169 workers from four dockyards were enrolled in current study, and 50 subjects of them were used for miRNA microarray analysis.
Project description:The effect of benzene exposure on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression was examined in a population of shoe-factory workers with well-characterized occupational exposures to benzene. We compared data from two microarray platforms (Illumina and Affymetrix). Keywords: occupational exposure
Project description:Coniferous trees use the oleoresin, a mixture of non-volatile non-volatile diterpene acids and a large (20-50%) volatile fraction of mono- and sesquiterpenes, as a defence tool against damaging herbivores and pathogens. Volatilization of monoterpenes increases viscosity of oleoresin and finally leading to polymerization of resin and a formation of protective solid plug. Resin storing conifers form an important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mainly dominated by volatile monoterpenes. In the atmosphere, conifer VOCs react with ozone and OH and nitrous oxide radicals forming secondary organic compounds. This project seeks a better understanding of the genetic control of conifer defences and the role of monoterpenoid compounds under biotic stresses.
Project description:Methylation of DNA is one of the common epigenetic signaling tools that cells use to lock the expression of various genes. In this study, we examined the effects of VOCs exposure in humans on methylation using microarray analysis. We recruited participants who had short-term exposure, long-term exposure, or no exposure. We then analyzed changes in methylation in blood samples from these participants. We found that 1178 genes were hypermethylated and 402 genes were hypomethylated compared with the control group in time-dependent manner. Further research is required to determine the time-dependent effects of VOCs on epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Methylation of DNA in human blood samples (IRB #AS 14039) divided into three groups: control (unexposed workers; n = 12), short-term exposure (workers exposed to VOCs for less than 10 years; n = 12), and long-term exposure (workers exposed to VOCs for more than 10 years; n = 12) was experimented by methylation microarray analysis after exposure to VOCs
Project description:Coniferous trees use the oleoresin, a mixture of non-volatile non-volatile diterpene acids and a large (20-50%) volatile fraction of mono- and sesquiterpenes, as a defence tool against damaging herbivores and pathogens. Volatilization of monoterpenes increases viscosity of oleoresin and finally leading to polymerization of resin and a formation of protective solid plug. Resin storing conifers form an important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mainly dominated by volatile monoterpenes. In the atmosphere, conifer VOCs react with ozone and OH and nitrous oxide radicals forming secondary organic compounds. This project seeks a better understanding of the genetic control of conifer defences and the role of monoterpenoid compounds under biotic stresses. Two separate samples were analysed (control-unchallenged and treatment-infected with the insect). There were a total of 3 biological replicates for the control samples and another set of three biological replicates for the treatment samples.
Project description:This study aims to examine global gene expression profiles before and after the work-shift among coke-oven workers (COW). COW work six consecutive days and then take two days off. Two blood and urine samples in each worker were collected before starting to work after two-days off and end-of-shift in the sixth-day work in 2009. Altered gene expressions (ratio of gene expression levels between end-of-shift and pre-shift work) were performed by Human OneArray expression system which probes ~30,000-transcription expression profiling of human genes. Sixteen workers, all men, were enrolled in this study. Median urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP) levels (mole/mole creatinine) in end-of-shift work were significantly higher than those in pre-shift work (2.58 vs. 0.29, p = 0.0002). Among the 20,341 genes which passed experimental quality control, 26 gene expression changes, 7 positively- and 19 negatively-, were highly correlated with across-the-shift urinary 1OHP levels (end-of-shift – pre-shift 1OHP) (p-value < 0.001). The high and low exposure groups of across-the-shift urinary 1OHP levels dichotomized in ~2.00 µmole/mole creatinine were able to be distinguished by these 26 genes. Some of them are known to be involved in apoptosis, chromosome stability/DNA repair, cell cycle control/tumor suppressor, cell adhesion, development/spermatogenesis, immune function, and neuronal cell function. Sixteen coke-oven workers who had worked in one of two coke-oven plants for at least one year in the largest steel company in Taiwan voluntarily participated in this study between July-October, 2009. Coke-oven workers regularly work 6 days and take two days off. Thus, we collected their blood and urine samples at two different time points: one was during the pre-shift work on the first day after two days off, and the second one was at the end-of-shift work on the 6th work day. Information about age and smoking status was also collected before the collection of biological specimens.
Project description:In this study, we examined the effects of VOCs exposure in humans on gene expression using microarray analysis. We recruited participants who had short-term exposure, long-term exposure, or no exposure. We then analyzed changes in gene expression in blood samples from these participants. A total of 866 genes were upregulated, while 366 genes were downregulated in the short-term exposure group. Similarly, in the long-term exposure group, a total of 852 and 480 genes were up- or downregulated, respectively. Hierarchical clustering analysis was used to divide the clustered genes into nine clusters to investigate the expression of variations in accordance with the exposure period. Further research is required to determine the time-dependent effects of VOCs on epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Gene expression of mRNA in human blood samples (IRB #AS 14039) divided into three groups: control (unexposed workers; n = 12), short-term exposure (workers exposed to VOCs for less than 10 years; n = 12), and long-term exposure (workers exposed to VOCs for more than 10 years; n = 12) was experimented by microarray analysis after exposure to VOCs
Project description:This study aims to examine global gene expression profiles before and after the work-shift among coke-oven workers (COW). COW work six consecutive days and then take two days off. Two blood and urine samples in each worker were collected before starting to work after two-days off and end-of-shift in the sixth-day work in 2009. Altered gene expressions (ratio of gene expression levels between end-of-shift and pre-shift work) were performed by Human OneArray expression system which probes ~30,000-transcription expression profiling of human genes. Sixteen workers, all men, were enrolled in this study. Median urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP) levels (umole/mole creatinine) in end-of-shift work were significantly higher than those in pre-shift work (2.58 vs. 0.29, p = 0.0002). Among the 20,341 genes which passed experimental quality control, 26 gene expression changes, 7 positively- and 19 negatively-, were highly correlated with across-the-shift urinary 1OHP levels (end-of-shift – pre-shift 1OHP) (p-value < 0.001). The high and low exposure groups of across-the-shift urinary 1OHP levels dichotomized in ~2.00 µmole/mole creatinine were able to be distinguished by these 26 genes. Some of them are known to be involved in apoptosis, chromosome stability/DNA repair, cell cycle control/tumor suppressor, cell adhesion, development/spermatogenesis, immune function, and neuronal cell function.
Project description:Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may play a role in systemic acquired resistance (SAR), a salicylic acid (SA)-associated, broad-spectrum immune response in systemic, healthy tissues of locally infected plants. Four-to-five-week-old plants were exposed for three days to a mixture of volatile pinenes to investigate genome-wide transcriptional responses relative to hexane-treated control plants.
Project description:We tested the hypothesis that differential gene expression in whole blood will reveal candidate blood biomarkers for exposure to agricultural pesticides and herbicides. Blood gene expression in male Latino farmworkers, where chronic pesticide exposure is occupational, was compared to blood gene expression in age and gender matched Latino manual workers. We identified an expression signature for farmwork, differential expression in genes that correlated with levels of urinary pesticide metabolites, alterations in axonal guidance pathways and statistical models that link farmworker differential expression to Parkinson's disease.