Expression of Low Molecular Mass Proteins in Stone Quarry Workers

Abstract

Background: In India, there are many unauthorized stone quarries in which millions of workers exposed to crystalline silica dust. Silica dust is the most significant causative agent for the irreversible but preventable disease like silicosis. It is an unavoidable occupational disease among mining population. Silicosis, silicotuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and lung cancer are reported in long term occupational exposure to silica dust. Early health care is the key to silicosis prevention, but until now no effective indicators of early health care is developed. Objectives: The present study was performed on stone quarry workers for the evaluation of protein fractions by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Materials and Methods: For this study, Stone quarry (n=30) workers were selected from the Panchgaon- kuhifata located in central India as experimental subjects with an exposure of 0-35 years. For comparison, control subjects (n=20) belonging to the same socio-economic status and age group were selected. Blood samples were collected. Separated serum samples were used for SDS-PAGE. Results: The molecular mass of differentially expressed protein was determined by log graph method which was found to be 10 kDa. Remarkably 90% expression of 10 kDa protein were observed in control subjects but no such expression were determined in serum of stone quarry workers. Conclusions: The loss of expression of targeted (10 kDa) protein in stone quarry workers may be used as a potential peripheral marker for early silica toxicity

Keywords

• biomarker
• clara cell protein (cc16)
• sds-page
• stone quarry