Cellular response to chemicals present in air pollution in occupationally exposed workers and its potential cancer susceptibility

Abstract The study aimed to evaluate in different groups of workers, chronic exposure, through peripheral biomarkers, the potential effects of chemical agents on phenotypic and genotypic expressions of tumor-related proteins in mononuclear cells. This study evaluates 85 taxi drivers (outdoor workers) and 55 non-occupationally exposed persons (NOE) to air pollution (indoor workers). The biomarkers were urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), organic agents, and blood As and Ni, to inorganic agents. Oxidative stress biomarkers; protein expression of ICAM-1 (CD54), β2-integrin, L-selectin (CD62-L), and MCP1; gene expression of ICAM-1, p53 and CD26 were performed. Urinary 1-OHP and blood As and Ni levels were increased in taxi drivers and were associated with inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. The exposure biomarkers (1-OHP, As, and Ni) were associated with each other, suggesting a common source of exposure. The gene expression of p53, CD26 and ICAM-1 were decreased in taxi drivers and were strongly associated with each other. The antioxidant non-protein thiols and lycopene were positively associated with increased gene expression of L-selectin, increasing the immune-response. We demonstrated, for the first time, that in occupational exposure to air pollution chemicals, oxidative and inflammatory processes are involved in the immune-regulatory process and indirectly contribute to suppressing the p53 and CD26 expressions, increasing the risk of cancer development, but antioxidants could contribute to improving the immune-regulation, however, more studies are needed.