Novel Serum Proteomes Expressed from Benzene Exposure Among Gasoline Station Attendants

Research on the proteomes impact of benzene exposure in fuel station employees remains sparse, underscoring the need for detailed health impact assessments focusing on biomarker evaluation.

This investigation aimed to analyze the differences in blood parameters and serum proteomes resulting from benzene exposure between gasoline station attendants (B-GSA) and a control group.

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 96 participants, comprising 54 in the B-GSA group and 42 in the control group. The methodology employed included an interview questionnaire alongside urine and blood sample collections. The urine samples were analyzed for trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) levels, while the blood samples underwent complete blood count analysis and proteome profiling.

Post-shift analysis indicated that the B-GSA group exhibited significantly higher levels of t,t-MA and monocytes compared to the control group (P < .05). Proteome quantification identified 1448 proteins differentially expressed between the B-GSA and control groups. Among these, 20 proteins correlated with the levels of t,t-MA in urine. Notably, 4 proteins demonstrated more than a 2-fold down-regulation in the B-GSA group: HBS1-like, non-structural maintenance of chromosomes element 1 homolog, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 4, and zinc finger protein 658. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed associations with apoptosis, cancer pathways, p53 signaling, and the TNF signaling pathway.

The changes in these 4 significant proteins may elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying benzene toxicity and suggest their potential as biomarkers for benzene poisoning in future assessments.