Plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 in patients with silicosis

P.-R. Jiang, Z. Cao, Z.-L. Qiu, J.-W. Pan, N. Zhang, Y.-F. Wu

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lishui People’s Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, China. qiuzeliang201506@163.com

---

• Respiratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: Silicosis is usually recognized at later stages of the disease, and early biomarkers for silicosis will be useful for timely diagnosis. We aimed at examining plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9, and correlation between these, in patients with different stages of silicosis in order to test suitability of these inflammatory factors as early biomarkers for silicosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: TNF-α and MMP-9 were quantified by ELISA in plasma specimens from 30 healthy individuals (control group), 28 individuals exposed to silica dust but without clinical disease, and 30 patients with silicosis.

RESULTS: Plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 were increased in individuals exposed to silica dust (p < 0.05 vs. control individuals) and were further elevated in patients with silicosis (p < 0.05 vs. control individuals and individuals exposed to silica dust). There was a significant correlation between plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 both in individuals exposed to silica dust (r = 0.696, p < 0.01) and patients with silicosis (r = 0.768, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Plasma levels of TNF-α and MMP-9 are increased prior to development of clinically recognized silicosis, suggesting that these biomarkers are involved in the onset and development of silicosis. Combined detection of TNF-α and MMP-9 may be useful for early diagnosis of silicosis.

Free PDF Download