Journal article
Immunomodulatory effects of mineral fibres in occupationally exposed workers
Mutation research, Vol.553(1), pp.111-124
2004
DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2004.06.030
PMID: 15288538
Abstract
In the context of a large-scale molecular epidemiology study, the possible immunomodulatory effects of mineral fibres, in workers occupationally exposed to asbestos, rockwool and glass fibres, were examined. In each plant, 61, 98 and 80 exposed workers and 21, 43 or 36 control clerical subjects, respectively, were recruited. In the case of the asbestos-exposed subjects, an additional town-control group of 49 people was included. Evidence of pulmonary fibrosis was found in 42% of the asbestos-exposed workers, while evidence of pleural fibrosis was found in 24%. The asbestos-exposed cohort had significantly decreased forced vital capacity of lungs as well as forced expiratory volume per first second.
Our findings indicate that exposure to all three types of fibres examined modulates to different degrees the immune response. Suppression of T-cell immunity and to a lesser extent, B-cell immunity was found in the case of workers from a former asbestos cement plant, while stimulation of T-cell response was observed in rockwool workers, and stimulation of T- and B-cell response was seen in glass fibre workers. Depression of the percentage of lymphocyte subpopulation of CD 16
+56 (natural killer cells) in peripheral blood was found in glass fibre workers. Statistical analysis showed increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 asbestos; IL-8 all three fibres), expression of adhesion molecule L-selectin on granulocytes and monocytes (asbestos), levels of soluble adhesion molecules (SAMs) in sera (ICAM-1 all three fibres; E-selectin glass fibres), increased levels of immunoglobulin E (asbestos and rockwool) and elevated expression of activation markers on eosinophils (CD66b asbestos, glass fibres; CD69 asbestos). Significant correlations were observed between lymphocyte proliferation and markers of DNA damage and repair. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, SAMs, immunoglobulin E and elevated expression of activation markers on eosinophils was found in people with symptoms of hypersensitivity and an elevated inflammatory status.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Immunomodulatory effects of mineral fibres in occupationally exposed workers
- Creators
- Jana Tulinska - Slovak Medical UniversityEva Jahnova - Slovak Medical UniversityMaria Dusinska - Slovak Medical UniversityMiroslava Kuricova - Slovak Medical UniversityAurelia Liskova - Slovak Medical UniversitySilvia Ilavska - Slovak Medical UniversityMira Horvathova - Slovak Medical UniversityLadislava Wsolova - Slovak Medical UniversitySoterios A Kyrtopoulos - National Hellenic Research FoundationAndrew Collins - University of OsloVikki Harrington - Robert Gordon UniversityLaurence Fuortes - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Mutation research, Vol.553(1), pp.111-124
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2004.06.030
- PMID
- 15288538
- ISSN
- 0027-5107
- eISSN
- 1873-135X
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2004
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984363635702771
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