Objective: To assess three plasma adipokines that might act as biomarkers useful in determining persons exposed to asbestos.
Method: Sixty subjects were included in the study, 30 male workers from factories manufacturing cement products using chrysotile asbestos, and 30 volunteer controls comprising 15 men and 15 women. Fasting venous blood specimens were submitted for blood chemistry examination and analysis of plasma levels of three adipokines, i.e. adipsin, adiponectin and resistin.
Results: (1) Compared with non-obese subjects, the adiponectin levels were lower in obese subjects, resistin levels were higher, and hemoglobin concentrations were lower. (2) Adipsin levels in the workers were significantly higher than in the controls (p < 0.005), and this difference was not related to body fat. (3) There were no statistically significant differences in adiponectin, resistin, and adipsin levels between the male and female controls. (4) Adiponectin in the male controls was significantly higher than that in the male workers (p <0.05). (5) Female controls had significantly higher percentages of body fat (p < 0.0005) and resistin (p < 0.02) levels than male controls and male workers. (6) A significant negative correlation existed between resistin and hemoglobin levels levels (r= -0.336, p < 0.01). (7) Overall adipsin levels among male workers were significantly higher than among control subjects (p < 0.005); the six workers in whom asbestos bodies (AB) were detected did not have significantly higher levels of adipsin than those of workers without AB having been detected.
Conclusions: Although the findings apparently showed higher adipsin levels in the workers, its value as a biomarker for asbestos exposure requires confirmation from studies on a larger group of subjects.