Immune and genetic profile of workers with metabolic syndrome contaminated with benzene (based on the example of the petrochemical industry)

Abstract

Exposure to harmful chemical factors of production can contribute to the development of metabolic disorders in workers in the petrochemical industry. Oil production conditions are associated with exposure to endocrine disruptors, such as aromatic hydrocarbons, whose effects are associated, among other things, with disorders of immuno-endocrine regulation.
 The aim of the study was to analyze the features of the immune and genetic status of workers in the oil-producing segment of the petrochemical industry with metabolic syndrome contaminated with benzene.
 142 operators of the oil production enterprise with pathology with metabolic syndrome were examined. The observation group included workers (n=94) characterized by contamination of the biological medium with benzene. The comparison group consisted of 48 people who were not contaminated with benzene. The state of cellular immunity was assessed by flow cytometry (CD3+CD8+, CD3+CD95+, CD3+), cytokine profile by enzyme immunoassay (IL‑6). Gene polymorphism was studied by real-time PCR.
 In workers with metabolic syndrome contaminated with benzene, the features of the clinical course of the metabolic syndrome, accompanied by functional and laboratory signs of atherosclerotic vascular changes, as well as an imbalance of the immune profile, whose phenotypes were: an increase in the absolute and relative content of CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes (1.3–1.6 times, respectively) (p<0.05), CD3+ lymphocytes (1.2–1.3 times) (p<0.05) relative to the comparison group, CD95+ cluster deficiency in relation to the reference interval and the indicators of the comparison group (1.4–1.9 times; p<0.05), IL-6 hyperproduction (1.6 times; p<0.05) relative to the values of the corresponding indicators of the group of workers where benzene contamination was absent. The genetic profile of workers (SNP) contaminated with benzene allowed us to establish a 1.4-fold increased prevalence of the C-allele of the FADS2 gene (OR=2.13; 95% CI: 1.05–4.29, p<0.05); 2.3 times the G-allele (OR=3.30; 95% CI: 1.46–7.33, p<0.05) of the TP53 gene.
 Established in operators of the oil-producing segment of the petrochemical industry with metabolic syndrome contaminated with benzene, features of the immune status: an increase in the expression of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocyte clusters, IL-6 cytokine, and a decrease in CD95+ lymphocyte reception (p<0.05) were accompanied by polymorphisms of candidate genes FADS2 (rs174583) and TP53 (rs 1042522) associated with obesity and apoptosis.
 Ethics. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies. All patients were informed about the purpose of the study, and voluntary informed consent was obtained.