Dynamic variation of histone H3 trimethyl Lys4 (H3K4me3) and heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) with employment length in nickel smelting workers

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the dynamic variation in H3K4me3 and HP1 with employment length in nickel smelting workers.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 140 nickel smelting workers and 140 age-matched office workers to test for H3K4me3, and HP1 levels.

Results: H3K4me3 was statistically significantly different (p < 0.05) between the two groups and positively correlated with employment length (r_s=0.267). HP1 was not correlated with employment length (p = 0.066) but was significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions: Chronic exposure to nickel can induce oxidative damage, and increase H3K4me3 expression and inhibit HP1 expression.

Keywords:

• Nickel smelting workers
• oxidative damage
• H3K4me3
• HP1
• biomarkers

Acknowledgements

We thank all participants in Lanzhou University and Jinchuan Worker Hospital of JNMC for their collaboration in this study; also thank Dennis Wang in Yale University for grammar polishing of the paper.

Ning Cheng and Yana Bai: Conceived and designed the experiments. Yanhong Zhao: Performed the data analyses and wrote the manuscript. Min Dai and Jie He: Provide fund support. Hongquan Pu and Haiyan Li: Performed the experiments. Tongzhang Zheng: Helped perform the analysis with constructive discussions.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Funding information

This work was supported by grants from National Major Special Project of Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC) (No. CZB20120064) and Project of Employees Health Status and Disease Burden Trend Study in Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals Corporation (No. JKB20120013).

Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC) supported by the National Health and Family Planning Committee (NHFPC) of China as a crucial cancer prevention initiative began in Aug, 2012. The primary objective of CanSPUC was to explore appropriate operating mode and implementation approach for high-risk population screening and early diagnosis of major cancers (including lung cancer, female breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer and liver cancer) in urban district of China. The program has covered 13 pilot provinces in China so far. Jinchang, Gansu was one of the screening cancer site, so we can get the support of this project.

Employees Health Status and Disease Burden Trend Study was a cooperation projects by Lanzhou university and Jinchuan company, the aim was to provide evidence-base suggestions for the health interventions in Jinchuan company.