US EPA

3079314 

Journal Article 

Asbestosis and catalase genetic polymorphism 

Franko, A; Dolzan, V; Arnerić, N; Dodic-Fikfak, M 

2008 

1 

Arhiv za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju / Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology
ISSN: 0004-1254
EISSN: 1848-6312 

59 

4 

233-240 

English 

19064360 

10.2478/10004-1254-59-2008-1907 

WOS:000262113900001 

Catalase (CAT) is part of the enzymatic defense system against reactive oxygen species (ROS), known to be involved in the pathogenesis of asbestosis. This study investigates whether CAT -262 C>T genetic polymorphism influences the risk of asbestosis in workers occupationally exposed to asbestos.The nested case-control study included 262 cases with asbestosis and 265 controls with no asbestos-related disease. Data on cumulative asbestos exposure and smoking were available. A real-time PCR assay was introduced for genotyping CAT -262 C>T promoter polymorphism.A slightly elevated risk of asbestosis was observed in subjects with the CAT -262 TT genotype compared to others (OR=1.36, CI 0.70-2.62). This risk did not change substantially after adjustment by sex, age, and smoking, but the involvement of cumulative asbestos exposure changed the OR to 1.91 (CI 0.93-3.91). These findings indicate that the CAT -262 TT genotype may be slightly associated with an increased risk of asbestosis. No synergistic effect was found between cumulative asbestos exposure and the CAT -262 TT genotype, but cumulative asbestos exposure acted as a confounder. These results are an important contribution to understanding the interactions between genetic and environmental factors that may modify the risk of asbestosis. 

asbestos exposure; causal relationship; nested case control study; real-time PCR