The clinical study on the correlation of lysophosphatidic acid and vascular endotheli growth factor and endothelin in serum of pneumoconiosis

Abstract

Objective: To explore the role of lysophosphatidic acid, vascular endothelial growth facor and endothelin in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in coal workers'pneumoconiosis patients, the relationship of lysophosphatidic acid, VEGF and ET in serum was studied. Methods: Sixty two pneumoconiosis patients were selected as cases group, which included 23 cases of stage Ⅰ, 25 cases of stageⅡand 14 cases of stageⅢ. Twenty workers were selected as dust exposure group who exposed to coal dust for more than 2 years and had not been diagnosed as pneumoconiosis. Ten healthy people who had no occupational dust exposure were simultaneously selected as the control group. The serum levels of LPA, VEGF and ET were measured by ELISA. Results: The serum levels of VEGF and ET in coal dust exposed group and pneumoconiosis group were much higher than in the control group. The differences were statistically significant among the three groups (P<0.01) . The serum levels of LPA increased in the dust exposed group, stage Ⅰand stage Ⅱgroup. The serum levels of LPA correlated positively with the levels of VEGF and ET (P<0.05) . Conclusions: The serum levels of LPA, VEGF and ET had evident correlation with the pulmonary fibrosis caused by coal dust, which indicate that LPA, VEGF and ET may play a pivotal role in the process of pulmonary fibrosis. The study will throw light on both pathogenesis and early intervention for pneumoconiosis.