Levels of nuclear transcription factor-κB in peripheral monocytes of silicosis patients

Objective To explore the role of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)in the development of silicosis through investigating the change of NF-κB level in peripheral monocytes of silica dust exposed workers and silicosis patients.Methods One hundred workers never exposed to silica dust were selected as control group,200 workers exposed to silica dust for more than 1 year as exposed group,32 suspected silicosis workers as observing group,and 79 silicosis patients as silicosis group.Levels of NF-κB protein in the peripheral monocytes of all the subjects were determined by ELISA method.Results The NFκB level in silicosis group was significantly higher than those of control group and exposed group,and the level in exposed group was significantly higher than that of control group,meanwhile,the level of NF-κB in silicosis group showed some increase along with the silicosis stage;the results of multiple regression analysis also showed that NF-κB level was correlated with the stage of silicosis.Conclusion Data from this study showed that the level of NF-κB in peripheral monocytes was increased in silica dust exposed group and silicosis group,which was not only correlated with the occurrence but also the severity of silicosis,suggested that NF-κB may become a good biomarker for prediction and prognosis of silicosis,and block the activation of NF-κB may be the new intervention target for prevention and treatment of silicosis.