Metabolic profile analysis on urine of workers with occupational nickel exposure
10.20001/j.issn.2095-2619.20241002
- VernacularTitle:职业性镍接触工人尿液代谢轮廓分析
- Author:
Zuofei XIE
1
;
Anping MA
;
Wenjie ZHANG
;
Lin ZHONG
;
Jingjing QIU
;
Zuokan LIN
;
Yi SUN
;
Weihui WANG
;
Zhanhong YANG
;
Liuqing ZHAO
;
Yiru QIN
;
Weifeng RONG
Author Information
1. School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Nickel;
Occupational exposure;
Urine;
Metabolomics;
Metabolic profile;
Glutathione;
Carnitine synthesis;
Amino acid
- From:
China Occupational Medicine
2024;51(5):488-495
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To analyze differential metabolites (DMs) in the urine of workers with occupational nickel exposure using non-targeted metabolomics, and to screen differential metabolic pathways. Methods A total of 30 nickel exposed workers were selected as the exposure group, and 30 administrative staff from the same factory were selected as the control group using the judgment sampling method. Urine samples of the individuals from the two groups were collected. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and non-targeted metabolomics were used to detect and identify metabolites. The differential metabolic profiles were compared between workers of the two groups, and key differential metabolic pathways and potential biomarkers were screened. The association of DMs and urinary nickel level were evaluated by Spearman correlation coefficients. The sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results A total of 418 metabolites were identified in the urine of worker in the exposure and control groups. The result of principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares analysis showed that there were 128 DMs in the urine of workers in the exposure group compared with the control group. These DMs were mainly enriched in glutathione metabolism, carnitine synthesis, and amino acid and nucleotide metabolism pathways, including glycine and serine metabolism. The result of correlation analysis and ROC curve analysis revealed that 4-methylcatechol, 4-vinylphenol sulfate, 2-hydroxyphenylacetone sulfate, 2-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, and decylbenzenesulfonic acid could be the potential biomarkers for nickel exposure (all area under the ROC curve >0.800). Conclusion There were significant differences in the urinary metabolic profiles of workers with occupational nickel exposure. The five DMs including 4-methylcatechol, 4-vinylphenol sulfate, 2-hydroxyphenylacetone sulfate, 2-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, and decylbenzenesulfonic acid. These DMs could be potential biomarkers of occupational nickel exposure.
