Objective: To research the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (MT-COI) gene methylation levels in patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning, and to explore effective molec μlar biomarkers in patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning. Methods: 38 confirmed cases of occupational chronic benzene poisoning were selected in the case group. 46 healthy people who underwent physical in our hospital were selected in the control group. Pyrosequencing was used to detect the methylation sites of methylation sites, flow cytometry was used to detect peripheral blood cell count levels, and non-parametric statistical methods were used to analyze the differences in detection results between the two groups. Results: The methylation level of mitochondrial MT-COI site 1 (2.21±0.81) % in the case group was less than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . The methylation level of mitochondrial MT-COI site 2 (2.31±0.96%) in the case group was less than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . The methylation average level of mitochondrial MT-COI (2.26±0.75) % in the case group was less than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Analysis of the average level of methylation found that the methylation level of mitochondrial MT-COI was correlated with WBC (P<0.05) . Analysis of the average level of methylation found that the methylation level of mitochondrial MT-COI was correlated with platelets (r=0.254、0.280, P<0.05) . Conclusion: The level of mitochondrial MT-COI gene methylation in patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning may be related to the sensitivity to benzene exposure. Mitochondrial MT-COI gene methylation may serve as a potential predictive biomarker for benzene poisoning.
目的： 研究职业性慢性苯中毒患者线粒体细胞色素c氧化酶亚单位I（mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I，MT-COI）基因甲基化水平，探讨职业性慢性苯中毒患者有效的分子生物标志物。 方法： 于2020年3月，选择2018年1月至2019年12月在深圳市职业病防治院就诊的轻度苯中毒患者38人作为病例组，并选择46名同期进行健康体检者作为对照组。采用焦磷酸测序法检测甲基化位点，采用流式细胞法检测外周血细胞计数水平，采用非参数检验统计分析。 结果： 与对照组比较，病例组MT-COI位点平均甲基化水平[（2.26±0.75）%]、MT-COI位点1甲基化水平[（2.21±0.81）%]、MT-COI位点2甲基化水平[（2.31±0.96）%]较低，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。白细胞计数和血小板计数随MT-COI甲基化程度的增高有增高的趋势，呈明显正相关（r=0.254、0.280，P<0.05）。 结论： 职业性慢性苯中毒患者MT-COI基因甲基化水平可能与职业性慢性苯中毒的存在相关性，其可作为潜在的职业性慢性苯中毒的效应生物标志物。.
Keywords: Benzene; Cytochrome oxidase; DNA methylation; Mitochondrial; Poisoning.