Diagnostic implications of p53 protein reactivity in nasal mucosa of nickel workers

To investigate whether the quantitation of p53 protein reactivity in nasal biopsies could be related to nickel exposure by comparing nickel workers with various control groups.

Nasal biopsies taken from nickel workers (n = 93) were compared immunohistochemically to various controls, including office staff members (n = 34) and hospital attendants (n = 6). The material was studied immunohistochemically with p53 antibody DO-1. p53 Protein-positive cells were counted at 400x magnification.

p53 Protein reactivity was found in 54% (49/93) of nickel workers, 50% (17/34) of office staff members, 67% (4/6) of hospital attendants. No differences were seen between roasting/smelting, electrolysis and other workers in the refinery. The positive cells were present predominantly in the basal layer of the epithelium. The number of positive nasal cells per field in the hospital attendants on the average was half of that in the workers and the office staff in the refinery. In no case in the control group were more than 10 cells per field seen. No significant differences in p53 protein positivity were observed between the three nickel worker groups and between production workers and office staff members.

Accumulation of p53 protein in nickel workers seems not to be attributable to nickel exposure. The lack of p53 protein positivity in fetal tissues shows that the accumulation of p53 protein is an event taking place after birth. Stimuli in the natural environment during life may explain p53 protein positivity.