Abstract
This study investigated the mesothelin (MSLN) methylation and its relationship with soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) levels in participants stratified by asbestos exposure scenarios and benign asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). The presence of benign ARDs was confirmed through chest X-ray and the asbestos exposure history was obtained using a standardized questionnaire in this study, including 262 participants. Sera SMRP were measured using MESOMARK, and MSLN methylation in genomic DNA extracted from whole blood was detected by real-time methylation-specific PCR. Covariates were compared with SMRP concentrations using correlation analysis and the potential covariates affecting SMRP were determined by multiple linear regression analysis, and the distribution of methylation status was analyzed by Chi-square test. There was a trend toward elevation of SMRP values in healthy individuals exposed to asbestos as compared with those without asbestos exposure. The highest median level of SMRP was 1.3nM in subjects with asbestosis, followed by cases with pleura plaque and asbestosis (1.2nM), pleura plaque (0.9nM), healthy subjects with occupational exposure (0.9nM), non-occupational exposure (0.8nM), and mixed exposure (0.8nM). Within asbestosis cases, those with higher profusion scores had higher SMRP values than those with lower profusion scores (1.6 vs. 0.8nM). Based on multi-regression analysis, the trend toward elevation of SMRP remained significant in subjects with occupational exposure or in those with asbestosis, as compared with healthy subjects without exposure (p<0.01), although body mass index had an effect on SMRP (p<0.0001). Regardless of the differences in SMRP levels among these subgroups, MSLN methylation ranged from 80.5 to 92.5%, with no significant difference. The elevated level of SMRP in asbestosis with higher profusion scores could not be attributed to low MSLN methylation status. Our findings suggest that the elevation of SMRP is related to asbestos exposure and benign ARDs especially for cases with high profusion scores, which is independent of MSLN methylation.
Highlights
Asbestos was a popular raw material widely applied in automotive and construction industries around the world, and the consumption of asbestos remains large in the developing countries in the 1st decade since 2000 [1]
Objectives This study investigated the mesothelin (MSLN) methylation and its relationship with soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) levels in participants stratified by asbestos exposure scenarios and benign asbestos-related diseases (ARDs)
There was a trend toward elevation of SMRP values in healthy individuals exposed to asbestos as compared with those without asbestos exposure
Summary
Asbestos was a popular raw material widely applied in automotive and construction industries around the world, and the consumption of asbestos remains large in the developing countries in the 1st decade since 2000 [1]. Given the high falsepositive of SMRP in a large-scale prospective study of SMRP for screening for ARDs in asbestos-exposed individuals [8], it is imperative to investigate the potential factors influencing the SMRP concentrations in subjects with a history of asbestos exposure. Recent studies showed that demographic variables, physiological factors, and genetic modification effects were associated with SMRP concentration [9,10,11,12]. Among these initial findings, epigenetic states relevant to asbestos exposure and/or ARDs could complement results from SMRP assay [12], so it may be an intrinsic event in regulating MSLN gene expression and its product levels
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
