IMMUNE MECHANISMS IN HUMAN ASBESTOSIS

这些人类研究的目的是探索 免疫系统在间质性肺动脉炎发生发展中的作用 纤维化的个体暴露于石棉。 人体研究 表明，并且动物研究已经证实，接触 石棉纤维可导致T淋巴细胞异常 在外周血和肺中，在巨噬细胞中， 淋巴细胞相互作用，免疫球蛋白合成， 分泌物 在人类，有皮肤的能量来回忆 抗原 我们的假设是石棉纤维可以影响 免疫调节，当他们这样做的时候， 抑制正常的肺部免疫反应。 我们将 在对50名石棉沉滞症患者的研究中验证了这一假设 其次是重大的职业接触，谁将是 与其他两组相比：第一组将由25名 有类似职业暴露史的人，但 没有纤维化肺病;第二个将包括25 特发性肺纤维化（IPF）患者， 暴露于石棉 我们将测量两种细胞 和体液成分的全身和肺部免疫 三个人口系统。 在健康的石棉- 暴露的个人将被用来识别缺陷， 无肺纤维化时的肺免疫应答 疾病，而IPF患者的结果将用于确定 免疫系统紊乱不是唯一相关的 暴露在石棉中 遗传因素的影响，以及 将评估暴露的类型、强度和持续时间。

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.