Preliminary study on serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α and their gene polymorphism in copper miners

Objective: To study biologic effect of high radon exposure in non-uranium miners by measurements of serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α and study on their gene polymorphism. Methods: Serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α in the miners selected from a Yunnan-based copper mine were measured by ABC- ELISA. TNF-α (-308, G→A) genotypes were identified by RFLP-PCR, IL-2 (-330, T→G) genotypes by sequence analysis. Results: Compared the miners with its control group, there were no statistical significance of the concentrations of serum IL-2 (F=0.71, P>0.05), IL-6(F=1.09, P>0.05) and TNF-α (F=0.95, P>0.05). Frequencies of IL-2 (-330, T→G) genotypes (2=0.02, P>0.05) and TNF-α (-308, G→ A) genotype (χ2= 2.21, P>0.05) were shown no statistical significance too. Conclusions: Compared with the control group, concentrations of serum IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α in miners working in the copper mine was lower, frequencies of genotypes of TNF-α (-308, A/A) was higher in the miners. But all the differences were not statistical significant. (authors)