Yang Zhang1, Dingzi Zhou, Faxuan Wang, Xiaohui Ren, Xiaosi Gao, Qin Zhang, Yajia Lan. 1. From the Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health (Dr Zhang, Dr Zhang, and Dr Lan), and Department of Occupational Diseases, No. 4 West China Teaching Hospital (Dr Zhou, Dr Gao), Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Dr Wang), School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia; and Department of Industrial Hygiene, 903 Hospital of China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan (Dr Ren), China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) on pulmonary function and disease severity in silicosis patients. METHODS: Twenty-nine silicosis patients and six observation subjects were recruited. MiR-146a expression level was detected by qRT-PCR, and pulmonary function was assessed with a spirometer. RESULTS: MiR-146a expression level was higher in silicosis patients than in observation subjects, and the probability of suffering from silicosis increased with increasing miR-146a level. MiR-146a was associated with the severity of silicosis. As the miR-146a increased, the probability of suffering from silicosis increased for stage I patients, and for stage II & III patients, the probability first increased and then decreased. MiR-146a was also associated with decreased pulmonary function measures, pulmonary function impairment, and restrictive ventilator dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: miR-146a was significantly associated with the disease severity and pulmonary function of silicosis.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) on pulmonary function and disease severity in silicosispatients. METHODS: Twenty-nine silicosispatients and six observation subjects were recruited. MiR-146a expression level was detected by qRT-PCR, and pulmonary function was assessed with a spirometer. RESULTS:MiR-146a expression level was higher in silicosispatients than in observation subjects, and the probability of suffering from silicosis increased with increasing miR-146a level. MiR-146a was associated with the severity of silicosis. As the miR-146a increased, the probability of suffering from silicosis increased for stage I patients, and for stage II & III patients, the probability first increased and then decreased. MiR-146a was also associated with decreased pulmonary function measures, pulmonary function impairment, and restrictive ventilator dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS:miR-146a was significantly associated with the disease severity and pulmonary function of silicosis.