Biomarkers of World Trade Center Particulate Matter Exposure: Physiology of Distal Airway and Blood Biomarkers that Predict FEV₁ Decline - PubMed Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Jun;36(3):323-33.
doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1547349. Epub 2015 May 29.

Biomarkers of World Trade Center Particulate Matter Exposure: Physiology of Distal Airway and Blood Biomarkers that Predict FEV₁ Decline

Michael D Weiden  1 , Sophia Kwon  1 , Erin Caraher  1 , Kenneth I Berger  1 , Joan Reibman  1 , William N Rom  1 , David J Prezant  2 , Anna Nolan  1
Affiliations
Review

Biomarkers of World Trade Center Particulate Matter Exposure: Physiology of Distal Airway and Blood Biomarkers that Predict FEV₁ Decline

Michael D Weiden et al. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Biomarkers can be important predictors of disease severity and progression. The intense exposure to particulates and other toxins from the destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) overwhelmed the lung's normal protective barriers. The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) cohort not only had baseline pre-exposure lung function measures but also had serum samples banked soon after their WTC exposure. This well-phenotyped group of highly exposed first responders is an ideal cohort for biomarker discovery and eventual validation. Disease progression was heterogeneous in this group in that some individuals subsequently developed abnormal lung function while others recovered. Airflow obstruction predominated in WTC-exposed patients who were symptomatic. Multiple independent disease pathways may cause this abnormal FEV1 after irritant exposure. WTC exposure activates one or more of these pathways causing abnormal FEV1 in an individual. Our hypothesis was that serum biomarkers expressed within 6 months after WTC exposure reflect active disease pathways and predict subsequent development or protection from abnormal FEV1 below the lower limit of normal known as WTC-Lung Injury (WTC-LI). We utilized a nested case-cohort control design of previously healthy never smokers who sought subspecialty pulmonary evaluation to explore predictive biomarkers of WTC-LI. We have identified biomarkers of inflammation, metabolic derangement, protease/antiprotease balance, and vascular injury expressed in serum within 6 months of WTC exposure that were predictive of their FEV1 up to 7 years after their WTC exposure. Predicting future risk of airway injury after particulate exposures can focus monitoring and early treatment on a subset of patients in greatest need of these services.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. WTC-FDNY Biomarker Timeline and development of Nested Case- Cohort Control Study Design
Summary of phenotyping that was done on the cohort and case susceptible and resistant to WTC-LI are shown in the inclusion criteria to develop the baseline cohort. Overlapping of cohort control with cases susceptible and resistant to WTC-LI is highlighted in the dashed red circle.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Overview of Biomarkers predicting WTC-LI as defined by FEV1 < LLN
A. Utilizing a Susceptible case-cohort control design B. Utilizing a resistant case-cohort control design. *Represents relative risk †Not previously published
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Blanc PD, Eisner MD, Earnest G, et al. Further exploration of the links between occupational exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Occup Environ Med. 2009;51:804–10. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Samet JM, Dominici F, Curriero FC, Coursac I, Zeger SL. Fine particulate air pollution and mortality in 20 U.S. cities, 1987-1994. N Engl J Med. 2000;343:1742–9. - PubMed
    1. Thurston GD, Ito K, Hayes CG, Bates DV, Lippmann M. Respiratory hospital admissions and summertime haze air pollution in Toronto, Ontario: consideration of the role of acid aerosols. Environ Res. 1994;65:271–90. - PubMed
    1. Dockery DW, Pope CA, 3rd, Xu X, et al. An association between air pollution and mortality in six U.S. cities. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:1753–9. - PubMed
    1. Barnes PJ. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: effects beyond the lungs. PLoS Med. 2010;7:e1000220. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types