Plasma Metabolic Profiling in Patients With Silicosis and Asbestosis

Objectives: To explore the circulating metabolites and related pathways in silicosis and asbestosis exposure to different mineral dust. Methods: Plasma of 30 silicosis, 30 asbestosis, and 20 healthy controls was analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolic networks and the relevance of the identified metabolic derangements were explored. Results: Compared with healthy controls, 37 and 39 dysregulated plasma metabolites were found in silicosis and asbestosis, respectively, of which the levels of 22 metabolites differed. Three major pathways were identified, among which arginine and proline metabolism was identified as the most closely related metabolic pathway. Conclusions: The types and quantities of up-regulated metabolites including lipids, amino acids, and carnitines differed between silicosis and asbestosis. Pathways inducing lung fibrosis were common to mineral dust exposure, while pathways related to oxidative stress and tumorigenesis differed between silicosis and asbestosis.

Automated summary

The study identified distinct circulating metabolites in silicosis and asbestosis, with arginine and proline metabolism being a closely related pathway. While pathways inducing lung fibrosis were common to both mineral dust exposures, pathways related to oxidative stress and tumorigenesis differed between silicosis and asbestosis.