%0 Journal Article %T Plasma microRNA expression in workers occupationally exposed to benzene %A Liu, Yang %A Chen, Xianwen %A Shi, Yuan %A Zhang, Jie %A Zhang, Hengdong %A Zhang, Feng %A Zhu, Baoli %J Journal of Public Health and Emergency %D 2017 %B 2017 %9 %! Plasma microRNA expression in workers occupationally exposed to benzene %K %X Background: Benzene is a confirmed organic carcinogen, and one of the most common environmental pollutants. However, the mechanism underlying benzene-induced hematotoxicity and leukemogenicity has not been fully elucidated. Our study aimed to explore whether benzene exposure has an effect on the plasma microRNA (miRNA) expression. Methods: In the discovery stage, we used a microarray assay to detect the miRNA expression profiles of two pooled plasma samples from ten healthy benzene-exposed individuals and ten non-benzene exposed controls. Subsequently, we conducted an expanded validation of three candidate miRNAs in 118 healthy benzene-exposed individuals and 91 non-exposed controls. Results: In the discovery stage, 5 miRNAs demonstrated at least a 1‑fold higher expression, and 12 miRNAs showed at least a −1‑fold lower expression in the exposure group as compared with the expression levels in the control group. In the expanded validation stage, the plasma level of miR-638 was significantly up-regulated (2.68±0.12 vs. 1.38±0.10, P %U https://jphe.amegroups.org/article/view/3672 %V 1 %P %@ 2520-0054