Presence of Antibodies to Heat Stress Proteins and its Possible Significance in Workers Exposed to High Temperature and Carbon Monoxide

Antibodies to the ubiquitous group of stress proteins known as heat shock proteins (Hsps) have been found to be associated with a number of diseases in humans. Hsps are known to be induced by certain xenobiotics, some of which are common in the working environment. The biological significance of the presence of such autoantibodies is presently unclear. In the present study, we used immunoblotting to investigate the presence of antibodies against the different stress proteins, Hsp27, Hsp60, Hsp71, Hse (heat shock cognate ) 73 and Hsp89a and D in groups of workers exposed to high temperature or carbon monoxide. These data were related to a detailed clinical evaluation and to various laboratory measurements including electrocardiogram (ECG), B echogram, white blood cell counts and typing, the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lymphocyte DNA damage. Antibodies to Hsp27 and Hsp71 were found more frequently in the high temperature and carbon monoxide-exposed groups than in controls (P (0.05 ). The carbon monoxide-exposed group showed the highest incidence of anti-Hsp antibodies. Anti-Hsp60 antibodies were only detected in workers exposed to high temperature or carbon monoxide. The percentage of workers with abnormal ECG, B echogram changes and displaying hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg ) was higher in the carbon monoxide group than in the control group (P＜0.05 ).There was a significant inerease in the activity of ALT in the high temperature and carbon monoxide groups and in the activities of ACP and ALP in the carbon monoxide group (P＜0.05 ). The extent of DNA damage measured in lymphoeytes was higher in workers from the high temperature and carbon monoxide-cxposed groups. We suggest that the increased frequeney of antibodies to Hsps is the result of these damages, of the release of denatured Hsps and of a decrease in the phagocytic ability of macrophages in these workers. The data gathered in the present study show a statistical relation between the occurrence of antibodies against Hsps and the frequency of health problems in workers and suggest a potential role for the antibodies as useful biomarkers to assess whether workers are experieneing environmental stress

The Combined Effects of High Temperature and Carbon Monoxide on Heat Stress Response

In this study,we have examined the effects of exposure to high temperature, carbon inonoxideor a combination of both conditions in a model system,the rat and in industrial workers.In the rat liver, HSP70 mRNA and HSP70 synthesis were measured by dot hybridization and western blot. The results showed that after a heat stress HSP70 mRNA and its product, HSP70 increased significantly and there was a synergism in the combined effects of high temperature and carbon monoxide exposure on the induction of HSP70 mRNA and HSP70 synthesis. Heat played a major role in this induction. The presence of antibodies to human HSP27, HSP60, HSP70,HSC73, HSP89 αand β in workers exposed to heat, carbon monoxide was also measured by western blot using purified HSPs as antigens. Plasma free amino acids were measured in the saine group of workers. The incidence of antibodies to HSP27 and HSP70 Was significantly higher in the workers working in an environment with extreme heat, and high carbon monoxide ernission than in a control group. The carbon monoxide exposed group showed the highest incidence of antibodies to HSPs. Although our previous results indicated that workers had an insufficient protein intake,plasma free amino acids tended to increase, especially in methionine and tryptophan two kinds of amino acids which are absent from the main stress protein, HSP70.These results suggest that the major problems that these workers may face are how to facilitate the use of plasma free amino acids and reduce the inhibition of synthesis of normal proteins when they are exposed to occupational harmful factors.These resultsalso add new information on the measurement of HSPs as a potential biomonitor to assess whether organisms are experiencing metabolic stress within their environment.

Facile Oxygen-promoted Synthesis of Cu,N Co-doped Carbon Composites for Oxygen Reduction

A new strategy to fabricate oxygen-promoted Cu,N co-doped carbon(OP-CuN@C)composites is reported.The strategy consists of only two simple steps:chemical polymerization and high temperature carbonization.Electrochemical measurements were conducted to investigate the catalytic activity and mechanism of ORR on the resulting samples.All the electrochemical results indicate that OP-CuN@C exhibits the best ORR catalytic activity.The ORR onset potential of OP-CuN@C is slightly lower than that of commercial Pt/C catalyst.The good performance is attributed to the large specific surface area,high content of heteroatoms(pyridinic,graphitic nitrogen,and oxygen atom)and synergistic effect between divalent copper and nitrogen dopant.