Publication
Title
Transcriptome analysis in peripheral blood of humans exposed to environmental carcinogens: a promising new biomarker in environmental health studies
Author
Abstract
Background: Human carcinogenesis is known to be initiated and/or promoted by exposure to chemicals that occur in the environment. Molecular cancer epidemiology is used to identify human environmental cancer risks by applying a range of effect biomarkers, which tend to be nonspecific and do not generate insights into underlying modes of action. Toxicogenomic technologies may improve on this by providing the opportunity to identify molecular biomarkers consisting of altered gene expression profiles. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to monitor the expression of selected genes in a random sample of adults in Flanders selected from specific regions with (presumably) different environmental burdens. Furthermore, associations of gene expression with blood and urinary measures of biomarkers of exposure, early phenotypic effects, and tumor markers were investigated. Results: Individual gene expression of cytochrome p450 1B1, activating transcription factor 4, mitogen-activated protein kinase 14, superoxide dismutase 2 (Mn) , chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha) , diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase homolog 2 (mouse) , tigger transposable element derived 3, andPTEN-induced putative kinase1 were measured by means of quantitative polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood cells of 398 individuals. After correction for the confounding effect of tobacco smoking, inhabitants of the Olen region showed the highest differences in gene expression levels compared with inhabitants from the Gent and fruit cultivation regions. Importantly, we observed multiple significant correlations of particular gene expressions with blood and urinary measures of various environmental carcinogens. Conclusions: Considering the observed significant differences between gene expression levels in inhabitants of various regions in Flanders and the associations of gene expression with blood or urinary measures of environmental carcinogens, we conclude that gene expression profiling appears promising as a tool for biological monitoring in relation to environmental exposures in humans.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Environmental health perspectives. - Research Triangle Park, N.C., 1972, currens
Publication
Research Triangle Park, N.C. : 2008
ISSN
0091-6765
1552-9924 [online]
DOI
10.1289/EHP.11401
Volume/pages
116 :11 (2008) , p. 1519-1525
ISI
000260521500026
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 23.12.2008
Last edited 06.09.2024
To cite this reference