Heat Shock Protein 27 is overexpressed in the skin of bitumen exposed workers. Early observations.

The skin of road pavers is exposed to a large number of compounds such as asphalt, bitumen, amines, polymers, oils, solvents, sand, gravel, crushed rock, mineral wad, ultraviolet light and heat. In order to verify an up-regulation of HSP27, determined by the above mentioned stimuli, we studied, immunohistochemically, the forearm skin of a sample of road pavers occupationally exposed. A total of 25 punch biopsies (3 mm diameters) was obtained from the foream skin of road paver workers (n=16) and a control group (n=5) not exposed. Specimens were sectioned (thickness: 3-4 micron ) and processed for immunohistochemistry. For localization of HSP27, a mouse anti-HSP27 monoclonal antibody was used. In punch biopsies of bitumen exposed workers, HSP27 immunostaining was hemogeneously detected in the whole epidermis including basal cell layer. Immunoreaction products were observed mostly in cytoplasm but also in nuclei. Staining intensity was stronger (grade 3 or 4) than that revealed in normal skin sample.