TNF polymorphisms modify endotoxin exposure-associated longitudinal lung function decline.
Authors
Zhang-H; Hang-J; Wang-X; Zhou-W; Sun-B; Dai-H; Su-L; Christiani-DC
Source
Occup Environ Med 2007 Jun; 64(6):409-413
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Endotoxin exposure induces airway inflammation, hyper-responsiveness and higher expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF). This study was conducted to investigate whether TNF polymorphisms modify the effect of endotoxin exposure on chronic declines in lung function. METHODS: Associations between TNF and LTA polymorphisms, endotoxin exposure and lung function were analysed in 263 cotton workers and 230 silk workers as a reference group, who were prospectively followed for 20 years. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association, with adjustment for smoking and other covariates. RESULTS: Endotoxin exposure was associated with faster lung function decline among genotypes associated with higher TNF expression levels, with estimates of annual FEV1 change in relation to endotoxin exposure of -2.9 ml and -6.8 ml in the G/G and G/A+AA genotypes, respectively, for the TNF polymorphism; and -2.0 ml, -4.0 ml and -3.6 ml in A/A, A/G and G/G genotypes, respectively, for the LTA polymorphism. When joint effects of endotoxin exposure and smoking were considered, the effect modification of TNF and LTA polymorphisms was prominent in never smokers. CONCLUSIONS: TNF and LTA polymorphisms may modify the association between occupational endotoxin exposure and longitudinal lung function decline, which was more clearly observed in never smokers.
Keywords
Respiratory-system-disorders; Cotton-dust; Lung-function; Lung-irritants; Long-term-study; Exposure-assessment; Workplace-studies; Textile-workers; Textiles; Endotoxins; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Byssinosis; Occupational-respiratory-disease; Epidemiology; Work-analysis; Work-environment; Worker-health; Work-operations; Work-areas; Workplace-studies; Quantitative-analysis
Contact
DC Christiani, Occupational Health Program, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
dchris@hsph.harvard.edu
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-002421
Priority Area
Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Manufacturing
Source Name
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Performing Organization
Harvard University
