OBJECTIVETo explore the significance of intercellular adhesion molecule -1 (CD54 or ICAM-1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet-derived factor (PDGF) in sputum cells of workers exposed to dust and patients with pneumoconiosis for the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSThe subjects included 62 workers exposed to dusts, 51 workers not exposed to dusts, 22 patients with pneumoconiosis and 10 healthy controls. The respiratory sputum technique was used to collect the sputum samples and the biomarkers (ICAM-1, EGFR and PDGF) of the sputum samples were detected with the sputum samples.

RESULTSWhen the exposure group was compared with non-exposure group, there were no significant differences of surface biomarkers (ICAM-1, EGFR and PDGF) in sputum cells (neutrophil leucocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and acidophilic/basophil leucocytes). As compared with other workers exposed to dusts, the surface CD54 and EGFR expression levels increased significantly and the surface PDGF expression level decreased significantly in workers exposed to dusts for 10 years (P<0.05). As compared with controls, the CD54 and EGFR expression levels of sputum cells increased significantly and the PDGF expression level of sputum cells decreased significantly in patients with pneumoconiosis at the stages of I and II + mI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression levels of the surface CD54, EGFR and PDGF of sputum cells in workers exposed to dusts and patients with pneumoconiosis changed, which may be useful for early detecting pneumoconiosis.and patients is changed, which may be meaningful for early detection of pneumoconiosis.