Relative telomere length and gene expression of shelterin complex proteins among vinyl chloride monomer-exposed workers in China.

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is a confirmed carcinogen. The effects of VCM on telomeres and the gene expression of telomere complex proteins, shelterin, have not been well studied but could be of potential relevance to the carcinogenic mechanism of VCM and the health surveillance of VCM-exposed workers. A group of 241 VCM-exposed workers and 101 internal controls from the same plant in Shandong, China were recruited and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was preformed to measure relative telomere length (RTL) and gene expression of shelterin proteins.