Identification of immune responsive genes on benzene, toluene and o-xylene in Jurkat cells using 35 k human oligomicroarray

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major component of urban air pollution. It is documented that low exposure levels of VOCs induce alterations in immune reactivity resulting in a subsequent higher risk for the development of allergic reactivity and asthma. Despite these facts, there are few reports on the affected primary target and the underlying effective causal mechanisms. So in this study, to better understand the risk of BTX (benzene, toluene and o-xylene) which are the major VOCs and to identify novel biomarkers on immune response to these VOCs exposure in human T lymphocytes, we performed the toxicogenomic study by analyzing of gene expression profiles using 35 k human oligomicroarray. BTX generated specific gene expression patterns in Jurkat cell line. By clustering analysis, we identified some genes as potential markers on immuno-modulating effects of BTX. Four genes of these, HLA-DOA, ITGB2, HMGA2 and STAT4 were the most significantly affected by BTX exposure. Thus, this study suggests that these differentially expressed immune genes may play an important role in the pathogenesis on BTX exposure and have significant potential as novel biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility and response to BTC.