IMMUNE MECHANISMS IN HUMAN ASBESTOSIS

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

It is the purpose of these human studies to explore the role of the immune system in the development of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in individuals exposed to asbestos. Human studies have suggested, and animal studies have confirmed, that exposure to asbestos fibers can produce abnormalities in the T lymphocyte population in peripheral blood and in the lung, in macrophage- lymphocyte interactions, and in immunoglobulin synthesis and secretion. In humans, there is cutaneous energy to recall antigens. It is our hypothesis that asbestos fibers can effect immune modulation, and that when they do so one result is suppression of the normal pulmonary immune response. We will test this hypothesis in a study of 50 individuals with asbestosis secondary to significant occupational exposure, who will be contrasted with two other groups: the first will consist of 25 individuals with similar occupational history for exposure, but without fibrotic lung disease; the second will consist of 25 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with no demonstrable exposure to asbestos. We will measure both cellular and humoral components of the systemic and pulmonary immune systems in the three populations. Findings in healthy, asbestos- exposed individuals will be used to identify defects in the pulmonary immune response in the absence of fibrotic lung disease, while findings in IPF patients will be used to identify immune system derangements which are not uniquely associated with exposure to asbestos. The influence of genetic factors, and of type, intensity and duration of exposure will be evaluated.