Objective: this work evaluates the expression of several biomarker genes (i.e. CAT, HSPs, MT10, p53, GSTpi, ER1/2) in Mytilus galloprovincialis native specimens to identify pollution related transcriptional changes., Methods: gene expression levels were analysed in the gills of mussels from five sites along a coastal area of the central Adriatic Sea, using qPCR., Results: we observed higher expression levels of biomarker genes in mussels from the local harbour or river mouths than in mussels from the reference site and offshore platform., Conclusions: the variations in gene expression observed indicated high sensitivity to pollutants, and showed differences among the sampling sites.