A Predictive Model Assessing Genetic Susceptibility Risk at Workplace

Chemical leukoderma: An insight of pathophysiology and contributing factors

Chemical leukoderma, or chemical-based vitiligo, is a dermal disease triggered by exposure to chemicals and characterized by the emergence of depigmentation or hypopigmentation of the skin. The etiology of this condition is associated with exposure to various chemical substances present in both occupational and non-occupational settings. The precise mechanism that underlies chemical leukoderma remains elusive and is believed to result from the demise of melanocytes, which are responsible for producing skin pigments. This condition has gained particular prominence in developing countries like India. An interesting connection between chemical leukoderma and vitiligo has been identified; studies suggest that exposure to many household chemicals, which are derivatives of phenols and catechol, may serve as a primary etiological factor for the condition. Similar to autoimmune diseases, its pathogenesis involves contributions from both genetic and environmental factors. Furthermore, over the last few decades, various studies have demonstrated that exposure to chemicals plays a crucial role in initiating and progressing chemical leukoderma, including cases stemming from occupational exposure.

Contribution of Genetic Polymorphisms in Human Health

Human health is influenced by various factors; these include genetic inheritance, behavioral lifestyle, socioeconomic and environmental conditions, and public access to care and therapies in case of illness, with the support of the national health system. All these factors represent the starting point for the prevention and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. However, it is not yet clear to what extent these factors may actually affect the health of an entire population. The exposures to environmental and occupational factors are several, most of which might be poorly known, contributing to influencing individual health. Personal habits, including diet, smoking, alcohol, and drug consumption, together with unhealthy behaviors, may inevitably lead people to the development of chronic diseases, contributing to increasing aging and decreasing life expectancy. In this article, we highlight the role of susceptibility biomarkers, i.e., the genetic polymorphisms of individuals of different ethnicities, with particular attention to the risk factors in the response to specific exposures of Europeans. Moreover, we discuss the role of precision medicine which is representing a new way of treating and preventing diseases, taking into account the genetic variability of the individual with each own clinical history and lifestyle.

Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds affects microRNA profiling: Towards the identification of novel biomarkers

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Exposure to volatile organic compounds represents a threat for workers' health and safety, even using protective equipment.

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Spray-painting exposure is at higher risk than roller-painting.

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Exposure to organic solvents may induce DNA and RNA oxidation, urine metabolite excretion and miRNA up- or down-regulation.

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miR-589-5p and miR-941, miR-146b-3p and miR-27a-3p have been identified as potential biomarkers of effect in exposed workers.

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KEGG pathway analysis showed that miRNA-1, related to lung cancer, is significantly downregulated in exposed workers.

In the framework of a project aimed at finding novel predictive biomarkers of VOCs exposure-related diseases, the effect of exposure to ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene has been analyzed in a group of painters (spray- and roller-painters) working in the shipyard industry. Airborne levels of solvents were higher in spray- than in roller-painters, and comparable to the Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), particularly for toluene and xylene. The urinary concentration of each volatile organic compound (VOC) and of the corresponding metabolites were also concurrently measured. A set of oxidative stress biomarkers, i.e., the products of DNA and RNA oxidation, RNA methylation, and protein nitration, were measured, and found significantly higher at the end of the work shift. MicroRNA (MiRNA) expression was analyzed in the VOC-exposed workers and in a control group, finding 56 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs at a statistically significant level (adjusted p ≤ 0.01). The Receiver-Operating Characteristic curves, computed for each identified miRNA, showed high sensitivity and specificity. A pathway analysis in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that miRNA-1, which was found downregulated in exposed workers, is involved in the lung cancer oncogenesis. A subset of 10 miRNAs (out of the 56 DE) was selected, including those with the highest correlation to the urinary dose biomarkers measured at the end of work-shift. Multivariate ANOVA analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the urinary dose biomarkers (both the VOCs urinary concentration and the VOCs’ metabolite concentration), and the identified miRNA subset, indicating that the exposure to low VOC doses may be sufficient to activate the miRNA response. Four miRNAs belonging to the subset strongly related to the VOCs and VOCs’ metabolites concentration were individuated, miR-589-5p, miR-941, miR-146b-3p and miR-27a-3p, with well-known implications in oxidative stress and inflammation processes.