Documents immunogenic factors 4 results

"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 immunitywas found in the case ofworkers from a former asbestos cement plant, while stimulation of T-cell response was observed in rockwoolworkers, 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 bloodwas found in glass fibreworkers. 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."

A cross sectional study of lead (7439921) exposed and unexposed workers was conducted using a comprehensive panel of immunologic parameters to evaluate the association between lead exposure and changes in the immune system. Studies focused particularly on determining whether the number of CD4+ T-cells was affected by lead exposure. Lead exposed workers were recruited from a large secondary lead smelter in the United States. The final study group included 145 exposed and 84 unexposed workers. The median blood lead level (BLL) was 39 micrograms/deciliter (microg/dl) among the exposed (range 15 to 55microg/dl) and the median among the unexposed group was less than 2microg/dl (range of 2 to 12microg/dl). Median zinc-protoporphyrin (ZPP) was 48 among the exposed and 17.5microg/dl among the unexposed group. No association was found between lead exposure and the percentage of CD4+ T-cells. Even though a significant interaction between age and lead exposure for the absolute number of CD4+ T-cells was noted, this finding may have been related to an increase in lymphocyte count with age in the unexposed population. In exposure response analyses among lead exposed workers, no evidence was found of a significant relationship between the number and percentage of CD4+ cells and estimates of exposure including current blood lead, ZPP, or estimated cumulative lead exposure. Lead exposed workers had a significantly lower percentage of monocytes than unexposed workers, although the magnitude of the difference was small.