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Genetic susceptibility in pneumoconiosis in China: a systematic review

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Abstract

Objective

Pneumoconiosis, encompassing coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), silicosis and asbestosis, is one of the most common occupational diseases in China. Previous studies revealed significant associations between genetic variations and pneumoconiosis risk among individuals in different countries. With the known variability of genetic makeup between ethnicities, susceptibility to pneumoconiosis due to genetic differences is likely to be ethnicity-specific. The present review aimed at providing a comprehensive overview on the association between genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility of pneumoconiosis, specifically among people in China.

Methods

The literature search was performed in seven English and Chinese databases using keywords related to the review aim. An appraisal of the methodological quality of the included studies was conducted using the assessment tool derived from the Strengthening the Reporting of Genetic Association Studies (STREGA) statement.

Results

Forty-five studies were included in this review. Genotypes of specific genes which are associated with the risk of CWP, silicosis and asbestosis were reported. Our findings showed that genes encoding inflammatory cytokines have been examined extensively, and they demonstrated an association between these genes and pneumoconiosis risk. Gene–environment interactions in pneumoconiosis susceptibility were also reported by a number of studies.

Conclusions

This review summarised the evidence demonstrating the association between genetic polymorphisms and pneumoconiosis susceptibility among people in China, and that various genotypes could modify their risk to develop pneumoconiosis. The findings prompt that identification of individuals at high pneumoconiosis risk through genetic screening and strategies limiting their exposure to dust could be a potential strategy for the control of this occupational disease in China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Sek Ying Chair, Judy Yuet Wa Chan, Bernard Man Hin Law, Mary Miu Yee Waye & Wai Tong Chien

  2. Asia-Pacific Genomic and Genetic Nursing Centre, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Sek Ying Chair, Mary Miu Yee Waye & Wai Tong Chien

  3. The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Sek Ying Chair, Mary Miu Yee Waye & Wai Tong Chien

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  1. Sek Ying Chair
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  2. Judy Yuet Wa Chan
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  3. Bernard Man Hin Law
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Correspondence to Judy Yuet Wa Chan.

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Chair, S.Y., Chan, J.Y.W., Law, B.M.H. et al. Genetic susceptibility in pneumoconiosis in China: a systematic review. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 96, 45–56 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-022-01893-1

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