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Arginine-Proline Metabolism as a Mediator in the Association Between Coal Dust Exposure and Lung Function: A
Xuesen Su1, Yuanyuan Sun, Yiwei Shi
1From The First College of Clinical Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China (X.S., T.L., H.D., C.Z.), Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China (Y. Sun); Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China (Y. Shi., X.K., X.Y., T.X., X.Z.); The National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis (Shanxi, China) Project, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China (X.S., Y. Sun, Y. Shi, X.K., T.L., H.D., X.Y., T.X., C.Z., X.Z.).
Objectives:
To investigate the mediating role of the activation degree of arginine-proline metabolism in the association of coal dust and decreased lung function.
Methods:
Cumulative dust exposure (CDE) represented coal dust exposure, whereas the hydroxyproline-to-arginine concentration ratio (Hyp/Arg) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid gauged arginine-proline metabolism activation. Pulmonary function indicators, including predicted value of forced vital capacity (FVC%pred), forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%), and the ratio of actual to predicted value of FEV1 (FEV1%pred), diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO%pred), difference value between alveolar air and arterial partial oxygen pressure (P (A-a) O 2 ), and 6-minute walking distance test (6MWT), were assessed.
Results:
Findings revealed a significant association between elevated CDE and increased Hyp/Arg, increased P (A-a) O 2 , decreased 6MWT, DLCO%pred, and decreased FVC%pred. However, no statistically significant association was found between CDE and FEV1%pred or FEV1/FVC%. The mediating effect of Hyp/Arg was significant for CDE's impact on P (A-a) O 2 and DLCO%pred but not on 6MWT and FVC%pred.
Conclusions:
These results highlight the role of Hyp/Arg in mediating the association between CDE and lung function parameters, shedding light on potential therapeutic avenues for mitigating coal dust-induced lung function impairment.
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