Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objectives
Diesel exhaust is an established human carcinogen, however the mechanisms by which it leads to cancer development are not fully understood. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an established contributor to carcinogenesis. Recent studies have improved our understanding of the role played by epigenetic modifications in the mitochondrial genome on tumorigenesis. In this study, we aim to evaluate the association between diesel engine exhaust (DEE) exposure with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation levels in workers exposed to DEE.Methods
The study population consisted of 53 male workers employed at a diesel engine manufacturing facility in Northern China who were routinely exposed to diesel exhaust in their occupational setting, as well as 55 unexposed male control workers from other unrelated factories in the same geographic area. Exposure to DEE, elemental carbon, organic carbon, and particulate matter (PM2.5) were assessed. mtDNA methylation for CpG sites (CpGs) from seven mitochondrial genes (D-Loop, MT-RNR1, MT-CO2, MT-CO3, MT-ATP6, MT-ATP8, MT-ND5) was measured in blood samples. Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between DEE, elemental carbon, organic carbon and PM2.5 exposures with mtDNA methylation levels, adjusting for potential confounders.Results
DEE exposure was associated with decreased MT-ATP6 (difference = -35.6%, P-value = 0.019) and MT-ATP8 methylation (difference = -30%, P-value = 0.029) compared to unexposed controls. Exposures to elemental carbon, organic carbon, and PM2.5 were also significantly and inversely associated with methylation in MT-ATP6 and MT-ATP8 genes (all P-values < 0.05).Conclusions
Our findings suggest that DEE exposure perturbs mtDNA methylation, which may be of importance for tumorigenesis.
SUBMITTER: Seow WJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10233238 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Seow Wei Jie WJ Hu Wei W Dai Yufei Y Vermeulen Roel R Byun Hyang-Min HM Wong Jason Y Y JYY Bassig Bryan A BA Blechter Batel B Duan Huawei H Niu Yong Y Downward George G Leng Shuguang S Ji Bu-Tian BT Fu Wei W Xu Jun J Meliefste Kees K Yang Jufang J Ren Dianzhi D Ye Meng M Meng Tao T Bin Ping P Hosgood H Dean HD Silverman Debra T DT Rothman Nathaniel N Zheng Yuxin Y Lan Qing Q
Carcinogenesis 20221201 12
<h4>Objectives</h4>Diesel exhaust is an established human carcinogen, however the mechanisms by which it leads to cancer development are not fully understood. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an established contributor to carcinogenesis. Recent studies have improved our understanding of the role played by epigenetic modifications in the mitochondrial genome on tumorigenesis. In this study, we aim to evaluate the association between diesel engine exhaust (DEE) exposure with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ...[more]