Concentration of hydroxyproline in blood: A biological marker in occupational exposure to asbestos and its relationship with PiZ and PiS polymorphism in the alpha-1 antitrypsin gene

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 186 - 193
• Main Authors: Mas, S., Casterad, X., Laso, N., Lafuente, M.J., Panades, R., Calleja, A., Hernandez, S., Turuguet, D., Deulofeu, R., Ballesta, A., Ascaso, C., Lafuente, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2004; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: a1-antitrypsin; Alleles; alpha 1 antitrypsin; alpha 1-Antitrypsin - genetics; alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency - genetics; asbestos; Asbestos - metabolism; Asbestos - toxicity; asbestosis; Asbestosis - diagnosis; Asbestosis - epidemiology; Asbestosis - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Female; gene polymorphism; Genotype; Humans; hydroxyproline; Hydroxyproline - blood; Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk Factors; Spain; Toxicology; Spain; Human; Lung disease; Biological fluid; Asbestos; Occupational disease; Pneumoconiosis; Asbestosis; Respiratory disease; Rate; Biological marker; Occupational exposure; Blood; α1-Antitrypsin; alpha 1 antitrypsin; Genetics; Occupational medicine; Polymorphism; hydroxyproline
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10350

Background Hydroxyproline (OHP) is one of the most abundant amino acids in collagen and, in general, it provides a good measure of overall collagen catabolism. Methods Asbestos workers suffering from asbestosis (cases n = 85); asbestos exposed workers without asbestosis (exposed controls, EC, n = 86), and non‐exposed population (non‐exposed controls, NEC, n = 122) were studied. The concentration of free OHP in whole blood was measured following the Pico‐Tag procedure. Results Concentration of OHP in blood was significantly different in the three groups studied (P < 0.001), being higher in cases (19.8 ± 14.7 μmol/L) than in EC (16 ± 12.4) and NEC (13.5 ± 6.7). When all individuals were grouped and stratified by the Pi*S and Pi*Z polymorphisms in the alpha‐1‐antitrypsin gene, the highest OHP levels were detected in the Pi*S homozygotes, one of the asbestosis‐at risk‐genotypes (Pi*S homozygotes, x = 24.5 ± 11.7; Pi*S heterozygotes, x = 16.6 ± 10.0; wild type, wt, x = 15.9 ± 11.8). Conclusions Blood OHP concentration could be used for monitoring human exposure to asbestos, either as a marker for occupational monitoring or as an additional clinical parameter in diagnostic exploration of asbestosis. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:186–193, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.