Mitochondrial proteins as biomarkers of occupational disease risk of pilots and astronauts

Abstract

Introduction. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important pathogenic mechanism of neurodegeneration, characterized by a progressive structural and functional loss of neurons, leading to heterogeneous clinical and pathological manifestations with subsequent impairment of the functional anatomy of the brain. Aim of research. To study the influence of occupational hazards and stress experienced by civil aviation pilots and cosmonauts on the expression of mitochondrial biomarkers in buccal epithelial cells to assess the risk of developing neurodegenerative processes. Material and methods. The study involved 23 male participants in two age groups. 4 groups of investgation were formed, according to the occupation, comparable in age. The expression of mitochondrial proteins prohibitin and parkin in the buccal epithelium of the study participants was assessed by immunohistochemical methods. Results. A decrease in the expression level of the prohibitin protein was found in the group of civil aviation pilots compared to the control group of the corresponding age. There was also a tendency to a decrease in the level of expression of the studied proteins prohibitin and parkin in the group of cosmonauts compared with the control group of the corresponding age. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate a mitochondrial dysfunction, which may increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative changes.