Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are well known immunotoxic and carcinogenic compounds. Although cutaneous symptoms are the hallmark of exposure to these compounds, exact pathophysiologic mechanisms are not well understood. We took skin biopsies from moderately high PCB exposed workers (n = 25) after an informed consent and investigated the expression of immunological markers such as CCL-7, CCL-20, CXCL2, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9, EPGN and NRF2 by RT-qPCR, and compared expression levels with plasma PCB levels. Statistical analyses showed a significant correlation between CCL-20, CXCL2, IL-6, IL-1β, CCL-7 and MMP-9 and PCB serum levels. EPGN and NRF2 were not correlated to PCB levels in the blood. We found a significant correlation of genes involved in autoimmune, auto-inflammatory and carcinogenesis in skin samples of PCB exposed individuals with elevated plasma PCB levels. Confirmation of these findings needs to be performed in bigger study groups and larger gen-sets, including multiple housekeeping genes. Further study needs to be performed to see whether a chronical exposure to these and similar compounds can cause higher incidence of malignancies and inflammatory disease.
Highlights
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are bioaccumulative and toxic environmental pollutants that elicit a broad spectrum of negative health effects including endocrine disruption as well as immunotoxic effects [1,2,3]
We included 25 participants with elevated PCB levels who agreed to a skin biopsy after informed consent
For HCB and DDE no significant correlation with MMP-9, CC-Chemokine Ligand 7 (CCL7), CC-Chemokine Ligand 20 (CCL20), CXCL2, In or addition to the above mentioned genes, we examined whether Nrf2
Summary
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are bioaccumulative and toxic environmental pollutants that elicit a broad spectrum of negative health effects including endocrine disruption as well as immunotoxic effects [1,2,3]. This group of 209 congeners were, since 1930 till their ban in 1977, used in large amounts for their fire resistant and low electrical conductivity [4]. While individual congeners differ markedly in their chemical and toxicological properties, mainly depending on the position of the chlorine atoms on the PCB molecule, certain classes of PCB congeners have common mechanisms of action with regard to their toxicity [10]. Twelve congeners with co-planar structure show toxicological properties similar to dioxin and are termed dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs)
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