TNFR/TNF-α signaling pathway regulates apoptosis of alveolar macrophages in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

We explored the role of TNFR/TNF-α signalingin apoptosis among alveolar macrophages (AM) and its relevance to the development of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Purified alveolar macrophages (AMs) were prepared from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid harvested from 366 CWP patients and 120 healthy subjects enrolled inthe study. The purified AMs were then divided into control, SOD, anti-TNFR, TNFR and NFkB inhibitor groups and analyzed for apoptosis usingflow cytometry (sub-diploid peak) and western blotting (Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 expression).

Correlations of smoking with cumulative total dust exposure and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal-mine workers.

The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of smoking with cumulative total dust exposure (CTE) and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal-mine workers. A total of 376 coal-mine workers were recruited as the observational group, while 179 healthy workers in other industries were selected as the control group. All the workers underwent pulmonary function testing to determine their forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC, in order to compare the abnormal pulmonary function between the two groups.

Analysis of Hemogram of Radiation Workers in Tangshan, China.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate changes in peripheral blood cells of radiation workers and explore the impact of long-term ionizing radiation (IR) on human peripheral hemogram.

Methods: With a cohort method, we selected 1,392 radiation workers (case group) and 1,430 non-health-ray-exposure history persons (control group) to detect and analyze their peripheral hemogram. FAITH3000 automatic biochemical analyzer was used for blood testing.

Relationship of cumulative dust exposure dose and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers.

To investigate the dose-response relationship between cumulative dust exposure (CDE) and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers. Three hundred and twenty eight coal mixture workers (exposed group) and 169 nondust-exposed workers (control group) were recruited. Basic information data were collected and pulmonary function tests were performed.

Effects of ionising radiation on micronucleus formation and chromosomal aberrations in Chinese radiation workers.

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of ionising radiation (IR) on micronuclei (MN) formation and chromosome aberrations (CAs) in Chinese radiation workers. The study was conducted using peripheral blood lymphocytes from 1392 radiation workers from Public Hospitals of the city of Tangshan (the exposed group), and 143 healthy individuals as the control group. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was used to detect the unstable and stable nuclear CAs on metaphase.

Association between polymorphisms of interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F genes and silicosis susceptibility in Chinese Han people.

Background: To explore the relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin17 (IL-17) gene(A-832G 7488A/G) and the susceptibility to silicosis, a risk factor for lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total of 113 silicosis patients and 116 workers without silicosis were enrolled in the case-control study. IL-17A A-832G and IL-17F 7488A/G polymorphisms were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

The relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin-4 gene and silicosis.

Objective: To explore the relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene (-33, +45, intron3, +429, +448) and the susceptibility of silicosis.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out. 101 silicosis patients were selected as cases.

[Case-control study of relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin-4 gene and susceptibility of silicosis].

Objective: To explore the relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene (-33, +45, VNTR, +429, +448) and the susceptibility of silicosis.

Methods: In a case-control study, the case group consisted of 101 patients with silicosis, and was matched with the control group (121 workers without silicosis), according to the age, sex, nationality, working place, exposure to dust. The polymorphisms of IL-4 (five locus) detected by the method of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques.

Fas/FasL pathway-mediated alveolar macrophage apoptosis involved in human silicosis.

In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that lung cell apoptosis is associated with lung fibrosis; however the relationship between apoptosis of alveolar macrophages (AMs) and human silicosis has not been addressed. In the present study, AM apoptosis was determined in whole-lung lavage fluid from 48 male silicosis patients, 13 male observers, and 13 male healthy volunteers. The relationships between apoptosis index (AI) and silica exposure history, soluble Fas (sFas)/membrane-bound Fas (mFas), and caspase-3/caspase-8 were analyzed.

[Investigation about prevention behavior for dust workers in machinery, ceramic, and metallurgy industry].

Objective: The purposes of this thesis were to study the behavior about workers exposed to dust and provide scientific basis for health promotion.

Methods: We designed a questionnaire and carry it on the 746 dust workers in the 3 representative corporations of Machinery, Ceramic, and Metallurgy Industry. All data were input into computer.

[Investigation on job stress of pediatricians and nurses working in pediatric department].

Objective: To investigate the occupational stressors and modifiers of pediatricians and nurses in order to find the measurements for control of the job stress.

Methods: 427 pediatricians and nurses working in five hospitals of a city served as subjects. Of them, the staff in section of pharmacy and toll offices in each hospital mentioned above served as control group.

[Decrease of cyclin D1 and CDK4 protein and their related factors induced by quartz in human embryonic lung fibroblasts].

Objective: To study the expression level of cyclin D1-CDK4 protein in human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF) induced by quartz, and to study whether the expression level of cyclin D1-CDK4 protein mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)/(AP-1) signaling pathways.

Methods: Cells were harvested after stimulation 2 h for the detection of cytokines. Cyclin D1 and CDK4 (cyclin dependent kinase 4) proteins was measured by immunocytochemistry (IC) and Western blot (WB).

Different patterns of cyclin D1/CDK4-E2F-1/4 pathways in human embryo lung fibroblasts treated by benzo[a]pyrene at different doses.

Objective: To investigate the roles of the cyclin D1/CDK4 and E2F-1/4 pathways and compare their work patterns in cell cycle changes induced by different doses of B[a]P.

Methods: Human embryo lung fibroblasts (HELFs) were treated with 2 micromol/L or 100 micromol/L B[a]P which were provided with some characteristics of transformed cells (T-HELFs). Cyclin D1, CDK4 and E2F-1/4 expressions were determined by Western blotting.

[Benzo (a) pyrene-induced human embryo lung cell cycle alterations through positive regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathways].

Objective: To study the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on the cell cycle distribution and activities of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal molecules (ERK1/2, JNK1/2 and p38) in human embryo lung cells (HELF), and to investigate the relationship between alterations of MAPK protein phosphorylation and the cell cycle distributions.

Methods: The phosphorylation of MAPK were induced by exposing HELF cells to BaP at 0.1, 0.

[The activation of MAPK/cyclin D1-CDK4 signaling pathway caused by quartz].

Objectives: To study the phosphorylation level of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF), and the expression level of cyclin D1-CDK4 protein in S-HELF and whether the expression level of cyclin D1-CDK4 protein mediated by MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway in S-HELF.

Methods: Two kinds of treatment: (1) Cells were harvested after stimulation 2 h for the detection of cytokines. (2) Cells were stimulated by quartz for a long time (2 months) for transformation characters (S-HELF).

Vitamin C inhibits benzo[a]pyrene-induced cell cycle changes partly via cyclin D1/E2F pathway in human embryo lung fibroblasts.

Objective: To study the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effects of vitamin C on benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-induced changes of cell cycle in human embryo lung fibroblast (HELF) cells.

Methods: The stable transfectants, HELF transfected with antisense cyclin D1 and antisense CDK4, were established. Cells were cultured and pretreated with vitamin C before stimulation with B[a]P for 24 h.

Benzo[a]pyrene-induced cell cycle progression is through ERKs/cyclin D1 pathway and requires the activation of JNKs and p38 mapk in human diploid lung fibroblasts.

Treatment of cells with carcinogen Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) allows cells to evade G1 arrest and induces cells abnormal proliferation. However, the mechanisms of its action at cellular level are not well understood. To address this question, normal human embryo lung diploid fibroblasts (HELF) were selected in the present study.

[Vitamin C reverses benzo (a) pyrene-induced cell cycle changes by E2F pathway].

Objective: To study the role of E2F1/4 pathway in vitamin C reversing benzo (a) pyrene [B (a) P]-induced changes of cell cycle in human embryo lung fibroblasts (HELF) and the relationship between E2F1 and cyclin D1/CDK4.

Methods: The stable transfectants, HELF transfected with antisense cyclin D1 and antisense CDK4, were established to detect the relationship of signaling pathway. Cells were cultured and pretreated with vitamin C before stimulation with B (a) P for 24 hours.

[cyclin D1/E2F pathways involved in cell cycle changes of human embryo lung fibroblasts induced by benzo(a)pyrene].

Objective: To investigate the roles of cyclin D1/CDK4-E2F-1/4 pathway in cell cycle changes of human embryo lung fibroblasts (HELF) induced by two different benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] treatment models.

Methods: Two B(a)P treatment models: HELF were treated by 2 micromol/L B(a)P for 24 hours; HELF were treated by 100 micromol/L B(a)P three times 24 hours each and provide with some characteristics of transformed cells (T-HELF). Changes of cell cycle and the expression of cyclin D1, CDK4 and E2F-1/4 were checked using the flow cytometry and Western bolt analysis.

[Inhibition of the pathway of benzo (a) pyrene-induced cell cycle changes by all-trans retinoic acid in lung fibroblast].

Objective: To investigate the reverse effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on Benzo (a) pyrene (B (a) P)-induced cyclin D1, CDK4, E2F-1 and E2F-4 expression and cell cycle progression in human embryo lung fibroblast (HELF).

Methods: After HELF cells was treated with ATRA, they were exposed to 2 micromol/L of B (a) P. Western blotting was employed to detect protein expression level; the RNA transfection techniques was used to investigate ATRA-induced signal pathway; flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle progression.