Blood biomarkers for vibration-induced white fingers. A case-comparison study

Piezo1 promotes vibration-induced vascular smooth muscle injury by regulating the NF-κB/p65 axis

Vibration induced damage to the peripheral circulatory system is thought to be an early stage of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) caused by occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV). This study investigated the mechanisms underlying vibration-induced vascular injury, focusing on the role of Piezo1, a mechanosensitive channel, and its association with the NF-κB/p65 signaling pathway. We demonstrated that vibration exposure leads to Piezo1-mediated upregulation of angiogenic chemokines, including CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL10, through the NF-κB/p65 pathway. To mimic the effects of vibration, a rat vibration model and a cellular vibration model were used. Animal and cellular models showed that vibration-induced vascular dysfunction while increasing Piezo1 expression. Piezo1 knockdown or p65 inhibition attenuated these effects, suggesting a crucial role for the Piezo1-NF-κB/p65 axis in vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, chemokines were identified as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of HAVS in occupationally exposed individuals. These results highlight Piezo1 and the NF-κB/p65 pathway as potential therapeutic targets for HAVS and underscore the need for further validation in human samples and exploration of additional signaling mechanisms involved in vibration-induced vascular injury.

Blood biomarkers for occupational hand-arm vibration exposure

Hand-arm vibration is a common occupational exposure that causes neurological impairment, myalgia, and vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomena or vibration white fingers (VWF). The pathological mechanism is largely unknown, though several mechanisms have been proposed, involving both immunological vascular damage and defective neural responses. The aim of this study was to test whether the substances interleukin-33 (IL-33), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), interleukin-10 (IL-10), endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20), calcitonin, and thromboxane (TXA2) changed before and after occupational hand-arm vibration exposure. 38 full-time shift workers exposed to hand-arm vibration were recruited. All the participants underwent medical examinations regarding symptoms of Raynaud's phenomena. In 29 of the participants, the concentration of IL-33, MDC, IL-10, ET-1, CCL20, calcitonin, and TXA2 was measured before and after a workday. There was a significant increase in ET-1 and calcitonin concentration and a decrease in the CCL20 concentration after the work shift in all participants. In the group suffering from VWF, but not in the non-VWF group, MDC was statistically significantly lower before the work shift (p = .023). The VWF group also showed a significant increase in MDC after the work shift. Exposure to occupational hand-arm vibration is associated with changes in ET-1, calcitonin, and MDC concentration in subjects suffering from vibration white fingers, suggesting a role of these biomarkers in the pathophysiology of this condition.

Serum biomarkers in patients with hand-arm vibration injury and in controls

Hand-arm vibration injury is a well-known occupational disorder that affects many workers globally. The diagnosis is based mainly on quantitative psychophysical tests and medical history. Typical manifestations of hand-arm vibration injury entail episodes of finger blanching, Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and sensorineural symptoms from affected nerve fibres and mechanoreceptors in the skin. Differences in serum levels of 17 different biomarkers between 92 patients with hand-arm vibration injury and 51 controls were analysed. Patients with hand-arm vibration injury entailing RP and sensorineural manifestations showed elevated levels of biomarkers associated with endothelial injury or dysfunction, inflammation, vaso- or neuroprotective compensatory, or apoptotic mechanisms: intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1); thrombomodulin (TM), heat shock protein 27 (HSP27); von Willebrand factor, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and caspase-3. This study adds important knowledge on pathophysiological mechanisms that can contribute to the implementation of a more objective method for diagnosis of hand-arm vibration injury.

Effects on blood parameters from hand-arm vibrations exposure

Vibration exposure from handheld tools can affect the hands with neurological symptoms and vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon (VRP). The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully known, however, changes in the composition of blood parameters may contribute to VRP with an increase in blood viscosity and inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on blood parameters in capillary blood from fingers that had been exposed to a vibrating hand-held tool. This study involved nine healthy participants who had been exposed to vibration and an unexposed control group of six participants. Capillary blood samples were collected before and after vibration exposure for the exposed group, and repeated samples also from the control group. The exposed groups were exposed to vibration for a 15-min period or until they reached a 5.0 m/s² vibration dose. Analysis of blood status and differential counting of leucocytes was performed on the capillary blood samples. The results of the blood samples showed an increase in mean value for erythrocyte volume fraction (EVF), hemoglobin, red blood cell count, white blood cell count and neutrophils, as well as a decrease of mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration. The increase of EVF and neutrophils was statistically significant for samples taken from the index finger but not the little finger. Even though the study was small it showed that an acute vibration exposure to the hands might increase EVF and neutrophilic granulocytes levels in the capillary blood taken from index fingers.