Benzene Exposure and MicroRNAs Expression: In Vitro, In Vivo and Human Findings

Paola Mozzoni, Diana Poli (), Silvana Pinelli, Sara Tagliaferri, Massimo Corradi, Delia Cavallo, Cinzia Lucia Ursini and Daniela Pigini
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Paola Mozzoni: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Diana Poli: INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Silvana Pinelli: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Sara Tagliaferri: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Massimo Corradi: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Delia Cavallo: INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Cinzia Lucia Ursini: INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Daniela Pigini: INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and define part of the epigenetic signature. Their influence on human health is established and interest in them is progressively increasing. Environmental and occupational risk factors affecting human health include chemical agents. Benzene represents a pollutant of concern due to its ubiquity and because it may alter gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms, including miRNA expression changes. This review summarizes recent findings on miRNAs associated with benzene exposure considering in vivo, in vitro and human findings in order to better understand the molecular mechanisms through which benzene induces toxic effects and to evaluate whether selected miRNAs may be used as biomarkers associated with benzene exposure. Original research has been included and the study selection, data extraction and assessments agreed with PRISMA criteria. Both in vitro studies and human results showed a variation in miRNAs’ expression after exposure to benzene. In vivo surveys also exhibited this trend, but they cannot be regarded as conclusive because of their small number. However, this review confirms the potential role of miRNAs as “early warning” signals in the biological response induced by exposure to benzene. The importance of identifying miRNAs’ expression, which, once validated, might work as sentinel molecules to better understand the extent of the exposure to xenobiotics, is clear. The identification of miRNAs as a molecular signature associated with specific exposure would be advantageous for disease prevention and health promotion in the workplace.

Keywords: benzene; microRNA; in vitro; in vivo; human exposure; biomarkers of exposure and effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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