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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Assessment of the Cytotoxic and Immunomodulatory Effects of Substances in Human Precision-cut Lung Slices
Published on: May 9, 2018
Lung function in relation to 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and genetic effect modification among rubber
Lena S Jönsson1, Margareta Littorin, Anna Axmon
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. lena_s.jonsson@med.lu.se
Objective:
What is the risk of impaired lung function in contemporary Swedish rubber workers and are there modifying effects of genetic variants?
Methods:
Included in the study were 159 rubber exposed and 118 not-rubber exposed workers. Lung function was analyzed as forced vital capacity percent of predicted and forced expiratory volume in 1 second percent of predicted. Levels of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (a marker of carbon disulfide and vulcanization fumes) was assessed with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Polymorphisms in glutathione-related genes were analyzed by Taqman-based allelic discrimination and ordinary polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
There was an association between increasing levels of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and impaired lung function among exposed workers. The association was modified by glutathione S-transferase alpha 1 (GSTA1)-52 and GSTP1-114. GSTM1 had an influence on lung function among unexposed workers.
Conclusions:
There may be a risk of impaired lung function in contemporary rubber workers. Gene-modifying effects may be considered in risk assessments.
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