[Correlation analysis between the exposure levels and the serum protein fingerprints in population exposure to silica].

Objective: To explore the correlation between the exposure levels and serum protein fingerprints in population exposed to silica.
Methods: Liquid chip time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology was used to investigate the serum profiles in control group (30 cases), group exposed to silica (30 cases), silicosis group (I stage, 25 cases) and suspected silicosis group (30 cases), and screen the differential expression proteins. The correlation between the levels of the differential expression proteins and the exposure levels was performed.
Results: Five differential expression proteins were found among 4 groups, the expression of 5081 and 5066 proteins was upregulated, and the expression of 3954, 2021 and 1777 proteins was downregulated. There was no the correlation between the exposure levels and the peak with M/Z among those proteins.
Conclusion: the results of present investigation indicated there was no correlation between the exposure levels and protein/peptide peak.