Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure, miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism, and heart rate variability in coke oven workers

- Rs2910164 is negatively associated with HRV in the highly PAH-exposed workers.
- PAH-exposed workers with miR-146a rs2910164 CC genotype have relatively lower HRV.
- Rs2910164 polymorphism has a modifying effect on the PAHs-HRV associations.

BackgroundExposure to ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with decreased heart rate variability (HRV). Evidence accumulates that microRNAs (miRNAs) might be the intermediate factors between environmental exposures and their adverse health effects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA genes may affect phenotypes and disease morbidity.ObjectiveWe sought to investigate the influences of four well-studied SNPs in miRNA genes (rs2910164, rs11614913, rs2292832, and rs3746444) on HRV, and their modifying effects on the associations between PAH exposure and HRV.MethodsWe measured the concentrations of ten urinary monohydroxy PAHs (OH-PAHs), seven HRV parameters, and genotypes of these four SNPs in 1222 coke oven workers.ResultsThere were significant differences among different rs2910164 genotype carriers in terms of all seven HRV indices: workers with rs2910164 CC genotype had significant lower HRV than those with GG or GC genotype (P<0.05). The number of rs2910164 C allele was negatively associated with HRV indices in the high PAH exposure group (β<0, P<0.05), and the association between rs2910164 and high-frequency (HF) power was significantly stronger in high exposure group (Pinteraction=0.042). Interestingly, the negative associations between the sum of 10 OH-PAHs and HRV (β<0, P<0.05) were significantly or marginally significantly stronger in workers with rs2910164 CC genotype (Pinteraction≤0.050).ConclusionsCoke oven workers with miR-146a rs2910164 CC genotype may be more susceptible to decreased HRV. The modifying effect of rs2910164 on the PAHs-HRV associations suggested miR-146a may mediate the effects of PAH exposure on HRV.