Plasma levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors are increased in coal miners with pneumoconiosis

Abstract

P Pl la as sm ma a l le ev ve el ls s o of f s so ol lu ub bl le e t tu um mo ou ur r n ne ec cr ro os si is s f fa ac ct to or r r re ec ce ep pt to or rs s a ar re e i in nc cr re ea as se ed d i in n c co oa al l m mi in ne er rs s w wi it th h p pn ne eu um mo oc co on ni io os si is s ABSTRACT: Among other cytokines, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is considered to play a key role in the development of mineral dust related fibrosis. Previously, we showed that ex-vivo release of TNF by peripheral blood monocytes is a marker for progression of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Since soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-Rs) are believed to play an important regulatory role in systemic effects of TNF, we measured plasma levels of sTNF-R55 and sTNF-R75 in coal miners with (n=28) or without (n=76) CWP and in nonexposed controls (n=29).sTNF-R75 levels were significantly increased in miners with CWP (2.09±0.44 ng·mL -1 ) versus the nonexposed controls (1.86±0.23 ng·mL -1 ). Neither sTNF-R55 nor sTNF-R75 were related to exposure, stage of pneumoconiosis, smoking, or (spontaneous or ex-vivo induced) monocyte TNF-release. sTNF-R55 was increased in subjects with medication (especially those using cardiovascular drugs); upon exclusion of these subjects, sTNF-R55 was found also to be significantly increased in CWP.In conclusion, bearing in mind a confounding effect of medication, soluble TNF receptors are elevated in plasma of retired miners with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. These observations further support the important role of TNF-mediated pathways in the pathogenesis of mineral dust related fibrosis.

A Genotyping and Phenotyping Study Concerning the Possible Effects of Some Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms on the Development of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis

“…Latest in vitro release researches have indicated that proinflammatory cytokine levels of TNF-alpha and IL1 were triggered in CWP (Schins and Borm, 1995;Zhai et al, 1998;Kim et al, 1999). According to our data, we found an enhanced release of TNF-alpha from blood monocytes after coal dust and LPS stimulation in contrast to spontaneous release in both controls and patients.…”

Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptors p55 and p75 and Interleukin-10 Downregulate TNF- α Activity during the Lung Response to Silica Particles in NMRI Mice

“…Other investigators have observed that administration of recombinant sTNF-R to normal or silica-exposed mice markedly decreased the collagen content in the lung by limiting the activity of TNF-␣ in collagen synthesis (27,28). Therefore, it is plausible that the sTNF-R overproduction observed in the resolving and fibrosing alveolitis models in our study, as well as in coal workers' pneumoconiosis (29), represents an attempt of the host to limit the extension of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis.…”

Elevated levels of IL-8, TGF-β, and TNF-α associated with pneumoconiosis: A meta-analysis

“…A meta-analysis for each of the three cytokines was performed. The publication dates for the studies used in the meta-analysis ranged from 1994 to 2021 (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). In total, the 11 studies combined were comprised of 547 control (healthy) participants and 938 patients with pneumoconiosis.…”

“…The meta-analysis for TNF-α was composed of the most studies with seven studies that were published from 1995 to 2021, with a total of 643 controls and 267 patients with pneumoconiosis included in the metaanalysis (9,10,12,14,16,17,20). Three of the studies reported significantly increased TNF-α levels in patients with pneumoconiosis compared to controls, while the other four reported nonsignificant results.…”