Bronchoalveolar lavage analysis, gallium-67 lung scanning and soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in asbestos exposure

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(89)80032-5· OSTI ID:6100287

Delclos, G L; Flitcraft, D G; Brousseau, K P; Windsor, N T; Nelson, D L; Wilson, R K; Lawrence, E C

This study examined different markers of lung immunologic and inflammatory responses to previous asbestos exposure. We performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and gallium-67 (/sup 67/Ga) lung scans and measured serum and BAL soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE) levels in 32 subjects with a history of significant asbestos exposure, 14 without (EXP) and 18 with (ASB) radiographic evidence of asbestosis. BAL analysis revealed increases in neutrophils in both ASB and EXP when compared to controls (P less than 0.01), which persisted after adjustment for smoking category. Although significant abnormalities of macrophage and total lymphocyte profiles were not found in the study population, lymphocyte subpopulation analysis revealed elevation of BAL T4/T8 ratios in the entire study group (ASB + EXP) when compared to controls (P less than 0.05), independent of smoking category. /sup 67/Ga lung scan activity was increased in 56% of ASB and in 36% of EXP: no correlations between positive scans and different radiological and functional parameters could be found. There was no significant elevation of mean SACE, serum, or BAL IL-2R levels in any of the study categories. These data suggest that asbestos exposure may be associated with parenchymal inflammation, even in the absence of clinical criteria for asbestosis. Abnormalities of gallium uptake and of BAL analysis reflect the clinically inapparent inflammation. The increased BAL T4/T8 ratios observed suggest that abnormal local pulmonary immunoregulation may play a role in the pathogenesis of asbestos-related lung diseases.

• Research Organization: Rockwell-McKelvey Pulmonary Immunology Laboratory, Houston, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6100287
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 48:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
TOXICITY
LUNGS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
LYMPHOKINES
RECEPTORS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
DIAGNOSIS
GALLIUM 67
LAVAGE
MACROPHAGES
NEUTROPHILS
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
PHENOTYPE
SOLUBILITY
ANIMAL CELLS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENZYMES
GALLIUM ISOTOPES
GROWTH FACTORS
HYDROLASES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEUKOCYTES
MATERIALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MITOGENS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHAGOCYTES
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RADIOISOTOPES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
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