ASSOCIATION OF HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 60 WITH NOISE-INDUCED HEARING IMPAIRMENT AND ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES AMONG WORKERS OCCUPATIONALLY-EXPOSED TO NOISE

Abstract

Introduction: Heat Shock Protein 60 (HSP 60) and other heat shock proteins play an important role in cellular survival under stressful conditions. HSP 60 participates in the course of many cardiovascular diseases. Exposure to severe noise can results in induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs). Aim of Work: to explore a possible association between HSP 60 and both noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among workers occupationally exposed to noise. Material and methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 35 workers exposed to noise at work and 42 individuals as a control group. Pure-tone audiometry was carried out to all participants. ECG recordings and measurements of HSP 60 levels in serum were also performed to the exposed and the control using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found on comparing exposed workers and control group as regards HSP 60 levels, ECG abnormalities and NIHL in low and high frequencies. A comparison between HSP 60 levels with ECG abnormality among the exposed workers revealed a statistically non-significant difference (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, statistically highly significant differences were found on comparing HSP 60 levels in the normal hearing exposed workers with each of the NIHL subgroups as regards low frequency hearing loss (P < 0.01) and high frequency hearing loss (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study revealed an association between serum HSP 60 levels and NIHL, but no association was found between serum HSP60 and ECG abnormalities among workers occupationally exposed to noise.