Abstract
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is one of the common organic solvents that are used in cleaning or degreasing of metal products and electronic products. During past ten years, hundreds of TCE allergic disorders in China have been diagnosed. However, the mechanism of this disorder remains unclear. The study investigated the mRNA expression of hepatic metabolic enzyme genes, immune-related genes (Foxp3, GATA3, CTLA4 and T-bet), apoptotic genes and oncogenes in the peripheral blood of patients with allergic dermatitis induced by TCE. When compared to the healthy control, the mRNA transcription levels of CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 in TCE patients were significantly up-regulated by 723%, 318%, 385% and 216% respectively. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of Foxp3, GATA3 and CTLA4 were elevated by 104%, 106% and 253% respectively. Nevertheless, T-bet mRNA expression was down-regulated by 44% compared with healthy control. Additionally, Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 mRNA expression were increased, and the levels of c-fos, c-myc, K-ras, p53 mRNA expression were increased in TCE exposed patients. These findings indicate that TCE exposure might cause damage to the immune system and influence the hepatic metabolic enzyme function during the process of TCE-induced allergic disorder. Additionally, elevated mRNA expression of oncogenes suggest that potential carcinogenic threat to the TCE patients.
Key words: Trichloroethylene; allergy; hepatic metabolic enzyme; immune-related gene; apoptosis gene; oncogene.
