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Alterations in leukocyte telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in benzene poisoning patients

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the impact of benzene poisoning on the relative content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene and telomere length in individuals with occupational chronic benzene poisoning (CBP) compared to a control group. The study will analyze and gather data on the mitochondrial gene content and telomere length in cases of benzene poisoning, and investigate the relationship with blood routine parameters in order to contribute scientific experimental data for the prevention and treatment of CBP.

Method

The case group comprised 30 individuals diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning, whereas the control group consisted of 60 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations at our hospital concurrently. Blood routine indicators were detected and analyzed, and the PCR method was employed to measure changes in mitochondrial MT-ND1 content and telomere length. Subsequently, a comparison and analysis of the aforementioned indicators was conducted.

Result

The case group exhibited a higher mitochondrial gene content (median 366.2, IQR 90.0 rate) compared to the control group (median 101.5, IQR 12.0 rate), with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the case group demonstrated lower white blood cell levels (3.78 ± 1.387 × 109/L) compared to the control group (5.74 ± 1.41 × 109/L), with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the case group displayed lower red blood cell levels (3.86 ± 0.65 × 1012/L) compared to the control group (4.89 ± 0.65 × 1012/L), with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The hemoglobin level in the case group (113.33 ± 16.34 g/L) was lower than that in the control group (138.22 ± 13.22 g/L). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Platelet levels in the case group (153.80 ± 58.31 × 109/L) is smaller than the control group (244.92 ± 51.99 × 109/L), there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The average telomere length of the normal control group was 1.451 ± 0.475 (rate); The mean telomere length of individuals in the case group diagnosed with benzene poisoning was determined to be 1.237 ± 0.457 (rate). No significant correlation was observed between telomere length and three blood routine parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (HB), and platelets (PLT). However, a significant correlation was found between telomere length and red blood cell count (RBC). Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between mitochondrial gene content and white blood cell count (r = − 0.314, P = 0.026), as well as between mitochondrial gene content and red blood cell count (r = − 0.226, P = 0.032). Furthermore, a negative correlation was identified between mitochondrial gene content and hemoglobin (r = − 0.314, P = 0.028), and platelets (r = − 0.445, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Individuals diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning exhibit a reduction in telomere length and an elevation in the relative content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene. Moreover, a negative correlation is observed between the content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene and four blood routine parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), and platelets (PLT). Consequently, benzene exposure may potentially contribute to the onset of premature aging.

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Abbreviations

MT-ND1:

Mitochondrially encoded NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

WBC:

White blood cell

PLT:

Platelet

RBC:

Red blood cells

HB:

Hemoglobin

mtDNA:

Mitochondrial DNA

CBP:

Chronic benzene poisoning

IARC:

International Agency for Research on Cancer

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Funding

This work was supported by Science and Technology Planning Project of Shenzhen Municipality (Nos. KCXFZ20201221173602007, JCYJ20190808174815278) and Shenzhen Fund for Guangdong Provincial High- level Clinical Key Specialties (No. SZGSP015).

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Author notes

  1. Dianpeng Wang and Dafeng Lin have contributed equally and are joint first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Laboratory, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, 518020, China

    Dianpeng Wang, Dafeng Lin, Xiangli Yang, Peimao Li, Zhimin Zhang, Wen Zhang, Yan Guo & Naixing Zhang

  2. Medical Laboratory College Hebei North University in China, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China

    Dongpeng Wu & Song Fu

  3. School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China

    Dianpeng Wang

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  1. Dianpeng Wang
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by XY, PL, ZZ and WZ, YG, DW, SF, NZ. The first draft of the manuscript was written by DW and DL and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dianpeng Wang or Naixing Zhang.

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The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the ethical Committee of Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases with the following code (LL202014).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Wang, D., Lin, D., Yang, X. et al. Alterations in leukocyte telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in benzene poisoning patients. Mol Biol Rep 51, 309 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09238-6

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