Association of serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyls with IL-8 mRNA expression in blood samples from asthmatic and non-asthmatic Japanese children

BackgroundOne of the suggested health outcomes of PCB exposure is childhood asthma.ObjectivesThis study was conducted to find health relevant biomarkers providing the molecular epidemiological evidence for the positive relationship between exposure to PCBs and childhood asthma.MethodsBlood samples from fifteen asthmatic children as well as an equal number of non-asthmatic children (average 2 year old) were collected, and were analyzed for PCBs and their select marker expression by using qRT-PCR.ResultsAmong biomarkers examined IL-8 expression was significantly correlated to serum levels of PCB #163 + 164 (P = 0.022), #170 (P = 0.046), #177 (P = 0.022), #178 (P = 0.022) and #180 + 193 (P = 0.046) in a dose-dependent manner, which was found only among asthmatic children. In contrast, COX-2 correlations to individual congener levels were recognized only among control subjects, not among asthmatic subjects.ConclusionSerum concentrations of PCB#163 + 164, #170, #177, #178 and #180 + 193 correlate significantly with IL-8 mRNA expressions among asthmatic children.

► We made to identify biomarkers between exposure to PCBs and childhood asthma.
► IL-8 expression was correlated to serum levels of PCBs among asthmatic children.
► COX-2 expression was correlated to serum levels of PCBs among control subjects.