Key result
In coke oven workers, increased IL-6 was associated with a dose-dependent decrease in heart rate variability in high-PAHs metabolites groups, whereas increased Hsp70 was associated with increased HRV in low-PAHs groups.
Why the study?
Is exposure to PAHs and associated systemic inflammation (IL-6, Hsp70) associated with altered heart rate variability in coke oven workers?
Cross-Sectional (n=800)
No
Is exposure to PAHs and associated systemic inflammation (IL-6, Hsp70) associated with altered heart rate variability in coke oven workers?
Effect estimate: 2.8% and 4.8% reduction in TP and LF for highest vs lowest IL-6 quartile
p-value: p=0.014 and 0.006
In coke oven workers, PAH exposure interacts with systemic inflammation (IL-6) and stress response (Hsp70) to alter heart rate variability, suggesting a mechanism for PAH-induced cardiovascular risk.
IL-6 and Hsp70 may modify PAH effects on HRV; hypothesis-generating for occupational cardiovascular risk.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with reduced heart rate variability (HRV), a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases, but the mechanism is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that PAHs might induce systemic inflammation and stress response, contributing to altered cardiac autonomic function. METHODS: HRV indices were measured using a 3-channel digital Holter monitor in 800 coke oven workers. Plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) were determined using ELISA. Twelve urinary PAHs metabolites (OH-PAHs) were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: We found that significant dose-dependent relationships between four urinary OH-PAHs and IL-6 (all Ptrend<0.05); and an increase in quartiles of IL-6 was significantly associated with a decrease in total power (TP) and low frequency (LF) (Ptrend = 0.014 and 0.006, respectively). In particular, elevated IL-6 was associated in a dose-dependent manner with decreased TP and LF in the high-PAHs metabolites groups (all Ptrend<0.05), but not in the low-PAHs metabolites groups. No significant association between Hsp70 and HRV in total population was found after multivariate adjustment. However, increased Hsp70 was significantly associated with elevated standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), TP and LF in the low-PAHs metabolites groups (all Ptrend<0.05). We also observed that both IL-6 and Hsp70 significantly interacted with multiple PAHs metabolites in relation to HRV. CONCLUSIONS: In coke oven workers, increased IL-6 was associated with a dose-response decreased HRV in the high-PAHs metabolites groups, whereas increase of Hsp70 can result in significant dose-related increase in HRV in the low-PAHs metabolites groups.
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Ye et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (n=800). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and plasma IL-6 / Hsp70 vs. Low PAHs metabolites / lowest quartile of IL-6 was evaluated on Heart rate variability (Total Power and Low Frequency) (2.8% and 4.8% reduction in TP and LF for highest vs lowest IL-6 quartile, p=0.014 and 0.006). In coke oven workers, increased IL-6 was associated with a dose-dependent decrease in heart rate variability in high-PAHs metabolites groups, whereas increased Hsp70 was associated with increased HRV in low-PAHs groups.
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