A role for cell adhesion in beryllium-mediated lung disease

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620903011160· OSTI ID:956679

Hong-geller, Elizabeth ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory

Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is a debilitating lung disorder in which exposure to the lightweight metal beryllium (Be) causes the accumulation of beryllium-specific CD4+ T cells in the lung and formation of noncaseating pulmonary granulomas. Treatment for CBD patients who exhibit progressive pulmonary decline is limited to systemic corticosteroids, which suppress the severe host inflammatory response. Studies in the past several years have begun to highlight cell-cell adhesion interactions in the development of Be hypersensitivity and CBD. In particular, the high binding affinity between intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (I-CAM1) on lung epithelial cells and the {beta}{sub 2} integrin LFA-1 on migrating lymphocytes and macrophages regulates the concerted rolling of immune cells to sites of inflammation in the lung. In this review, we discuss the evidence that implicates cell adhesion processes in onset of Be disease and the potential of cell adhesion as an intervention point for development of novel therapies.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 956679
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-08-08058; LA-UR-08-8058
• Journal Information: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Journal Name: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 6; ISSN 1545-9624
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ADHESION
AFFINITY
BERYLLIOSIS
BERYLLIUM
CORTICOSTEROIDS
DISEASES
GRANULOMAS
INFLAMMATION
INTERACTIONS
LUNGS
LYMPHOCYTES
MACROPHAGES
MOLECULES
PATIENTS