Mechanisms of macrophage accumulation in the lungs of asbestos-exposed subjects

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/136.2.276· OSTI ID:6243144

Spurzem, J R; Saltini, C; Rom, W; Winchester, R J; Crystal, R G

Chronic asbestos exposure is associated with the accumulation of mononuclear phagocytes in the lower respiratory tract. This process can be both protective and injurious, since macrophages can aid in asbestos clearance yet also modulate structural derangements of the alveolar walls. To understand why macrophages accumulate in the lungs of asbestos-exposed persons, 2 possible mechanisms were evaluated using alveolar macrophages from subjects with histories of chronic high exposure to airborne asbestos: enhanced recruitment of blood monocytes to the lung, and an increased rate of replication of macrophages in situ. Monoclonal antibody analysis with antibodies that detect surface antigens on the majority of circulating blood monocytes but only on a minority of mature alveolar macrophages demonstrated that an increased proportion of alveolar macrophages of asbestos workers expressed monocyte lineage antigens, suggesting the presence of young newly recruited macrophages and thus enhanced recruitment. Culture of the alveolar macrophages from these subjects with (/sup 3/H)thymidine followed by autoradiography demonstrated an increased proportion of alveolar macrophages synthesizing DNA, suggesting the macrophages are replicating at an increased rate in situ. These observations are consistent with the concept that both enhanced recruitment of blood monocytes and increased local proliferation of alveolar macrophages contribute to the accumulation mononuclear phagocytes in the lung of persons with chronic asbestos exposure.

• Research Organization: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 6243144
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States) Vol. 136:2; ISSN ARDSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANTIBODIES
ASBESTOS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CELL PROLIFERATION
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DNA REPLICATION
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LEUKOCYTES
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
MATERIALS
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
MONOCYTES
NUCLEIC ACID REPLICATION
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHAGOCYTES
PYRIMIDINES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RIBOSIDES
SOMATIC CELLS
THYMIDINE
TOXICITY
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS