Targeted plasma proteomics identifies a novel, robust association between cornulin and Swedish moist snuff

Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 2;8(1):2320. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20794-3.

Abstract

Lifestyle behaviors are believed to influence the body's inflammatory state. Chronic low-grade inflammation contributes to the development of major non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Inflammation may thus be an important link between lifestyle and disease. We evaluated self-reported physical activity, tobacco use and alcohol consumption in relation to plasma levels of 160 validated inflammatory and cancer biomarkers. The study included 138 participants from a population-based cohort, all with repeated sampling of plasma and data ten years apart, allowing consideration of both intra- and inter-individual variation. Of 17 relationships identified, the strongest was an independent, positive association between cornulin (CRNN) and Swedish moist snuff (snus) use. We replicated the finding in a second cohort of 501 individuals, in which a dose-response relationship was also observed. Snus explained approximately one fifth of the variance in CRNN levels in both sample sets (18% and 23%). In conclusion, we identified a novel, independent, dose-dependent association between CRNN and snus use. Further study is warranted, to evaluate the performance of CRNN as a potential snus biomarker. The putative importance of lifestyle behaviors on a wide range of protein biomarkers illustrates the need for more personalized biomarker cut-offs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / blood*
  • Plasma / chemistry*
  • Proteomics*
  • Tobacco Use*
  • Tobacco, Smokeless

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CRNN protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins