Pulmonary response in different groups: comparison of CC16 protein between sugarcane cutters and runners in urban area

Background: The club cell secretory protein (CC16) is a biomarker of aggression, damage or dysfunction of lung epithelial cells. Aim: To evaluate urinary CC16 protein in individuals who exercise in urban areas compared to rural workers. Methods: 49 manual sugarcane cutters were evaluated, six months after the onset of the harvest, at 7 h am and soon after the work shift, 4:00 pm, and 39 runners, six months after the start of training, before (7h am) and after (8h am) a 7 km run (45 min) in vehicular traffic street. Urine was collected for analysis of the CC16 protein and blood for analysis of inflammatory markers. Weather data and PM2.5 concentration were measured simultaneously. Results: The mean concentration of PM2.5 and temperature were higher in the working environment of the sugarcane cutters: 101.0 μg/m3 and 29.7 ° C, compared to running environment: 62.0 μg/m3 and 22.2 ° C. The age of the cutters was higher than of the runners (39.4 ± 10.9 vs. 19.1 ± 0.9 years). The sugarcane cutters had a higher concentration of the CC16 protein pre-work than runners (12.8 x 9.4 μg/g creatinine, p Conclusion: Sugarcane cutters, after six months of work, present a more intense inflammatory response in relation to the runners, but a reduction in the capacity of response to pulmonary aggression, marked by CC16 protein