Work Genes Research Articles

Expression of DNA repair genes in workers producing lead from recycled materials

Working conditions at lead production plants, where a large number of harmful chemicals are present in the air of the work area, among which lead is the leading risk factor, have a negative impact on the health of workers. This xenobiotic disrupts numerous biochemical processes and affects many body systems. Of particular interest is the understanding of the action of lead at the molecular level, since in addition to the general mechanisms of damage to molecules and ultrastructures as a result of oxidative stress, lead is able to bind to a large DNA groove. A change in the level of gene expression in response to toxic exposure is considered as one of the biomarkers of the effect and can serve to develop measures for the early diagnosis of health disorders in exposed populations, including those working in harmful conditions. The study aims to consider the expression of DNA repair genes in workers of lead processing from secondary raw materials. The researchers examined the interned men working at the enterprise for the production of lead from secondary raw materials in the profession of a smelter (n=11) of the rough lead department, a dryer (n=10) of the rough lead department. The comparison group included men (n=20) who work at the same enterprise and have no contact with harmful factors of production. We have performed amplification of the studied genes (ATM, CDKN1A and MDM) in real time using the QuantStudio 3 amplifier (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). It was found that the expression level of the ATM gene was statistically significantly different in all three study groups from the comparison group. The expression of the CDKN1A gene increased in comparison with the comparison group only in the smelters of the refining department. Also, the expression of this gene was increased in the smelters of the refining department compared with the smelters of the rough lead department. In this study, an increase in the expression level of CDKN1A in smelters of the refining department was demonstrated, which may be an adaptive mechanism of the repair system. Also, in all exposed groups, the researchers found a decrease in the expression level of the ATM gene, which is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Further studies of the mechanisms of the influence of lead on the expression of these two genes in experimental models will allow the use of expression levels as early biomarkers of the effect of both total Pb exposure (ATM gene) and dose-dependent (CDKN1A gene). Limitations. Ethnicity was not determined in this study. Ethics. The studies were conducted in accordance with the ethical principles set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association and approved by the local Ethics committee of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the Russian National Research Center of Rospotrebnadzor (Protocol No. 1 of 02/26/2021).

Features of the polymorphism of the ADRB2 Arg16Gly and HTR2A (rs7997012) genes in workers at the sylvinite concentrating factory

Features of the polymorphism of the ADRB2 Arg16Gly and HTR2A (rs7997012) genes in workers at the sylvinite concentrating factory

Effects of sublethal azadirachtin on the immune response and midgut microbiome of Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

As a wildly used plant-derived insecticide, azadirachtin (AZA) is commonly reported as harmless to a range of beneficial insects. However, with the research on the effect of AZA against pollinators in recent years, various negative physiological effects on other Apidae species have been demonstrated. Thus to explore the safety of azadirachtin to Apis cerana cerana, the different physiological effects of sublethal concentration of azadirachtin on worker bees A.c.cerana has been studied. With the exposure of 5 mg·L-1 and 10 mg·L-1 azadirachtin for 5 d, the relative expression of Apidaecin, Abaecin and Lysosome genes in workers has decreased significantly at 1, 2,3 and 5 d, and the mRNA levels of Defensin 2 and Hymenoptaecin were also significantly inhibited by 10 mg·L-1 azadirachtin at each check point. Besides, the activity of midgut antioxidant enzymes Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) which are the first line of defence in antioxidant systems was not affected by AZA, the activity of Peroxidase (POD) showed a fluctuating pattern at 24 h and 48 h, while the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) has significantly inhibited by AZA. However, through 16sRNA analysis it was observed that 5 mg·L-1 AZA did not affect the midgut microbiome colony composition and relative abundance, as well as its main function. Therefore, to a certain extent, azadirachtin is safe for workers, but we should pay more attention to the sublethal effect of AZA that also detrimental to the healthy development of the honeybee colony.

Effect of cattle farm exposure on oropharyngeal and gut microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes in workers

Livestock farms are recognized as the main sources of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) with potential implications for human health. In this study, we systematically analyzed microbiome composition, distribution of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the oropharynx and gut of workers in cattle farms and surrounding villagers, cattle feces and farm air, and the relationship of microbial communities among farm air, cattle feces and farmworkers (oropharynx and gut). Exposure to the farm environment may have remodeled farmworkers' oropharynx and gut microbiota, with reduced microbial diversity (P < 0.05) and enrichment of some opportunistic pathogenic bacteria like Shigella, Streptococcus, and Neisseria in the oropharynx. Meanwhile, compared with villagers, ARG abundance in oropharynx of farmworkers increased significantly (P < 0.05), but, no significant difference in gut (P > 0.05). Microbial composition and ARG profile in farmworkers might be influenced by working time and work type, ARG abundance in farmworkers' gut was positively correlated with working time (P < 0.01), and higher ARG abundance was found in the oropharynx of drovers. The network analysis revealed that 4 MGEs (tnpA-01, tnpA-04, Tp614, and IS613), 5 phyla (e.g. Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and TM7), and 6 genera were significantly associated with 37 ARGs (ρ > 0.6, P < 0.01). Overall, our results indicated that farm exposure may have affected the microbial composition and increased ARG abundance of farmworkers. Transmission of some ARGs may have occurred among the environment, animals and humans via host bacteria, which might pose a potential threat to human health.

Enhanced H3K4me3 modifications are involved in the transactivation of DNA damage responsive genes in workers exposed to low-level benzene

In this study, we explore whether altered global histone modifications respond to low-level benzene exposure as well as their association with the hematotoxicity. We recruited 147 low-level benzene-exposed workers and 122 control workers from a petrochemical factory in Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. The internal exposure marker level, urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA), in benzene-exposed workers was 1.81-fold higher than that of the controls (P<0.001). ELISA method was established to examine the specific histone modifications in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLCs) of workers. A decrease in the counts of white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes appeared in the benzene-exposed group (all P<0.05) compared to the control group. Global trimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3) modification was enhanced in the benzene-exposed group (P<0.05) and was positively associated with the concentration of urinary SPMA (β=0.103, P=0.045) and the extent of DNA damage (% Tail DNA: β=0.181, P=0.022), but was negatively associated with the leukocyte count (WBC: β=-0.038, P=0.023). The invitro study revealed that H3K4me3 mark was enriched in the promoters of several DNA damage responsive (DDR) genes including CRY1, ERCC2, and TP53 in primary human lymphocytes treated with hydroquinone. Particularly, H3K4me3 modification was positively correlated with the expression of CRY1 in the PBLCs of benzene-exposed workers. These observations indicate that H3K4me3 modification might mediate the transcriptional regulation of DDR genes in response to low-dose benzene exposure.

Comparison of chromosomal aberrations frequency and polymorphism of GSTs genes in workers occupationally exposed to cytostatics or anaesthetics

Authors compared the incidence of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) of workers occupationally exposed to cytostatics (group EXP1) or anaesthetics (group EXP2) in relationship to polymorphism of GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 genes. The cytogenetic analysis for chromosomal aberrations frequency and for polymorphisms of genes the PCR and PCR-RFLP method were used. Statistically higher frequency of total CAs was detected in both exposed groups: group EXP1 1.90±1.34%; Mann-Whitney U-test, p=0.001; group EXP2 2.53±1.46%, p=0.0008) as compared to control (1.26±0.93%). In group EXP2 was detected statistically higher frequency of aberrations CSA-type as compared to CTA-type. In xenobiotic metabolizing genes for GST higher frequency of total CAs and constituent types chromatid-type aberrations (CTAs) and chromosome-type aberrations (CSAs) of genes GSTM1 and GSTT1 with null genotype was detected. Statistically significant difference was detected only in CSA-type of aberrations in GSTT1 gene. In gene GSTP1 was not detected any difference in frequency of aberrations in presence of the variant allele. Presented results point out importance of individual susceptibility in evaluation of genotoxic agents of anaesthetics or cytostatics.

Aberrant Promoter Methylation of p16INK4a and O6‐Methylguanine‐DNA Methyltransferase Genes in Workers at a Chinese Uranium Mine

To find the possible association of gene methylation of p16(INK4a) and O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (O(6)-MGMT) with occupational exposure to radon, 91 male miners from a uranium mine in China were divided into 4 groups according to the cumulative doses of radon exposure from 2 to 425 WLM (working-level months), and aberrant promoter methylation of p16(INK4a) and O(6)-MGMT genes in sputum samples was determined by a specific PCR assay. The results revealed that the methylated rates of 16(INK4a) gene (z=2.844, P=0.005) and O(6)-MGMT gene (z=3.034, P=0.002), and the total methylated rate of these two genes (z=3.859, P=0.0001) increased significantly with the cumulative doses of radon among the miners. This methylation could be applied as a potential marker for the detection of early DNA damage induced by occupational radon exposure.

Differential gene expression between developing queens and workers in the honey bee, Apis mellifera.

Many insects show polyphenisms, or alternative morphologies, which are based on differential gene expression rather than genetic polymorphism. Queens and workers are alternative forms of the adult female honey bee and represent one of the best known examples of insect polyphenism. Hormonal regulation of caste determination in honey bees has been studied in detail, but little is known about the proximate molecular mechanisms underlying this process, or any other such polyphenism. We report the success of a molecular-genetic approach for studying queen- and worker-specific gene expression in the development of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Numerous genes appear to be differentially expressed between the two castes. Seven differentially expressed loci described here belong to at least five distinctly different evolutionary and functional groups. Two are particularly promising as potential regulators of caste differentiation. One is homologous to a widespread class of proteins that bind lipids and other hydrophobic ligands, including retinoic acid. The second locus shows sequence similarity to a DNA-binding domain in the Ets family of transcription factors. The remaining loci appear to be involved with downstream changes inherent to queen- or worker-specific developmental pathways. Caste determination in honey bees is typically thought of as primarily queen determination; our results make it clear that the process involves specific activation of genes in workers as well as in queens.