Characterization of the lower respiratory tract inflammation of nonsmoking individuals with interstitial lung disease associated with chronic inhalation of inorganic dusts
The pneumoconioses, interstitial lung disorders resulting from the inhalation of inorganic dusts, are associated with chronic inflammatory processes in the lower respiratory tract. To characterize these inflammatory processes in relation to the pathogenesis of these disorders, we studied 39 nonsmoking individuals with long-term occupational exposures to inorganic dust and functional evidence of interstitial disease (asbestosis, n = 18; coal workers' pneumoconiosis, n = 15; silicosis, n = 6). In all 3 disorders, the inflammation was dominated by alveolar macrophages. Because a common feature of these interstitial lung diseases is concurrent injury and fibrosis of alveolar walls, we assessed whether these alveolar macrophages were spontaneously releasing mediators capable of giving rise to these changes. Alveolar macrophages from the study population were spontaneously releasing increased amounts of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide (both p less than 0.01 compared to normals), oxidants capable of injuring lung parenchymal cells. The alveolar macrophages were also spontaneously releasing significantly increased amounts of fibronectin and alveolar macrophage-derived growth factor (both p less than 0.01 compared to normals), mediators that act synergistically to signal fibroblast replication. Taken together, these findings define a major role for the alveolar macrophage in mediating the alveolar wall injury and fibrosis that characterize the common pneumoconioses and suggest that the alveolar macrophage is an important target for developing strategies designed to prevent loss of lung function in these individuals.
- Research Organization:
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD
- OSTI ID:
- 5756866
- Journal Information:
- Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Vol. 136:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Basic mechanisms leading to focal emphysema in coal workers' pneumoconiosis
Evidence for chronic inflammation as a component of the interstitial lung disease associated with progressive systemic sclerosis
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
TOXICITY
COAL
LUNGS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PNEUMOCONIOSES
PATHOGENESIS
SILICA
AIR POLLUTION
DUSTS
GROWTH FACTORS
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
INHALATION
MACROPHAGES
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ANIMAL CELLS
BODY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTAKE
MATERIALS
MINERALS
MITOGENS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEROXIDES
PHAGOCYTES
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SOMATIC CELLS
016000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Health & Safety
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology