ABSTRACT

Workers in swine operations may be at increased risk of developing respiratory problems. These respiratory conditions are more prevalent among workers who are smokers. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) genes play an important role in human immune responses to various respiratory hazards. This study aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms in TNF genes might alter the effects of smoking on lung function among workers in swine operations. Three hundred and seventy-four full-time workers from large swine operations and 411 non-farming rural dwellers in Saskatchewan were included in this study. Information on demographic and lifestyle characteristics, pulmonary function, and blood samples were obtained. Multiple linear regression analyses were used in the statistical analysis. Three promoter polymorphisms (rs1799724, rs361525, and rs1800629) in the TNF gene were investigated. Only the interaction term between smoking status and rs1799724 was significant in the multiple regression models. Among workers with the rs1799724 polymorphism (TT+TC), current smokers exhibited significantly lower lung function than nonsmokers. These associations were not observed among workers with the wild-type (CC). These findings were not observed among non-farming rural dwellers. Data demonstrated the possible involvement of TNF gene in (1) development of adverse respiratory conditions among workers who are smokers, (2) importance of smoking cessation among workers, especially those with polymorphisms in the TNF gene, and (3) potential implications in treatment, screening, and prevention.

摘要

养猪场的工人患呼吸系统疾病的风险可能会增加。这些呼吸系统疾病在吸烟工人中更为普遍。肿瘤坏死因子 ( TNF ) 基因在人类对各种呼吸道危害的免疫反应中发挥着重要作用。本研究旨在探讨TNF 中的多态性是否基因可能会改变吸烟对养猪场工人肺功能的影响。本研究包括来自萨斯喀彻温省大型养猪场的 374 名全职工人和 411 名非农业农村居民。获得了关于人口统计学和生活方式特征、肺功能和血液样本的信息。统计分析采用多元线性回归分析。研究了TNF基因中的三个启动子多态性（rs1799724、rs361525 和 rs1800629）。在多元回归模型中，只有吸烟状态和rs1799724之间的交互项是显着的。在具有rs1799724 的工人中多态性（TT+TC），目前吸烟者的肺功能明显低于不吸烟者。在野生型 (CC) 工人中未观察到这些关联。在非农业农村居民中没有观察到这些发现。数据表明TNF基因可能参与(1) 吸烟工人呼吸系统不良状况的发展，(2) 工人戒烟的重要性，尤其是TNF基因多态性的工人，以及 (3) 治疗的潜在影响、筛查和预防。