Premium
Bitumen products induce skin cell apoptosis in chronically exposed road pavers
Author(s) -
Rapisarda Venerando,
Carnazza Maria L.,
Caltabiano Candida,
Loreto Carla,
Musumeci Giuseppe,
Valentino Matteo,
Martinez Giuseppa
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2008.01140.x
Subject(s) - apoptosis , tunel assay , programmed cell death , necrosis , tumor necrosis factor alpha , terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase , cancer research , medicine , pathology , immunology , chemistry , biochemistry
Background: Worker’s exposure to bitumen fumes, via inhalation and skin contamination, is related to adverse effects including an increased risk of lung, stomach and non‐melanoma skin cancers and leukaemia. The two major mechanisms regulating apoptosis include the mitochondria‐mediated intrinsic pathway and the extrinsic pathway induced by death signalling ligands. In a previous study, we showed activation of apoptosis‐regulating proteins BAX and BCL‐2 in road pavers chronically exposed to bitumen fumes. These molecules play a central role in activation of programmed cell death by the intrinsic pathway. In this study, we hypothesized that the apoptosis mechanism could be activated in the skin of road pavers chronically exposed to bitumen fumes also through the extrinsic pathway, via mediation by tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its death receptor, DR5. Methods: Skin punch biopsies from 16 occupationally exposed workers and a control group were processed immunohistochemically for TRAIL and DR5. Activation of programmed cell death was also investigated by expression of caspase‐3 and visualization of DNA strand breaks. Results and Conclusion: TRAIL, DR5 and caspase‐3 overexpression and enhanced Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) positivity were found in chronically bitumen‐exposed skin, suggesting activation of apoptosis as a defence mechanism.