Skip to main content
PMC home page
Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1977 May;28(2):261–267.

Immunological studies of patients with asbestosis. I. Studies of cell-mediated immunity.

E Kagan, A Solomon, J C Cochrane, E I Beissner, J Gluckman, P H Rocks, I Webster
PMCID: PMC1540761  PMID: 872451

Abstract

A variety of cancers have been documented in patients exposed to asbestos dust. Since a deranged immune system may play a rôle in cancer development, the general level of immunocompetence was studied in a group of twenty-six patients with radiographically defined asbestosis, who might be at risk of developing asbestos-related neoplasms. Statistical comparisons were made with a comparable control group. A disproportionate number of the patients displayed cutaneous energy to certain recall antigens and to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene. In vitro studies of cellular immunity, as evaluated by phytohaemagglutinin-induced proliferative and cytotoxicity assays, showed significantly lower values amongst the patient group. Serum inhibitors of mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation were also detected in several of the patients. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Allison A. C. Pathogenic effects of inhaled particles and antigens. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1974;221:299–308. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1974.tb28229.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Berry G., Newhouse M. L., Turok M. Combined effect of asbestos exposure and smoking on mortality from lung cancer in factory workers. Lancet. 1972 Sep 2;2(7775):476–478. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(72)91867-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Burnet F. M. The concept of immunological surveillance. Prog Exp Tumor Res. 1970;13:1–27. doi: 10.1159/000386035. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Catalona W. J., Sample W. F., Chretien P. B. Lymphocyte reactivity in cancer patients: correlation with tumor histology and clinical stage. Cancer. 1973 Jan;31(1):65–71. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197301)31:1<65::aid-cncr2820310109>3.0.co;2-y. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Catalona W. J., Taylor P. T., Rabson A. S., Chretien P. B. A method for dinitrochlorobenzene contact sensitization. A clinicopathological study. N Engl J Med. 1972 Feb 24;286(8):399–402. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197202242860804. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chess L., MacDermott R. P., Schlossman S. F. Immunologic functions of isolated human lymphocyte subpopulations. I. Quantitative isolation of human T and B cells and response to mitogens. J Immunol. 1974 Oct;113(4):1113–1121. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Enterline P. E., Kendrick M. A. Asbestos-dust exposures at various levels and mortality. Arch Environ Health. 1967 Aug;15(2):181–186. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1967.10664900. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gerber M. A. Asbestosis and neoplastic disorders of the hematopoietic system. Am J Clin Pathol. 1970 Feb;53(2):204–208. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/53.2.204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Harris R., Ukaejiofo E. O. Rapid preparation of lymphocytes for tissue-typing. Lancet. 1969 Aug 9;2(7615):327–327. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)90096-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Kagan E., Soskolne C. L., Zwi S., Hurwitz S., Maier G. M., Ipp T., Rabson A. R. Immunologic studies in patients with recurrent bronchopulmonary infections. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1975 Apr;111(4):441–451. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1975.111.4.441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kang K., Sera Y., Okochi T., Yamamura Y. Letter: T lymphocytes in abestosis. N Engl J Med. 1974 Oct 3;291(14):735–736. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197410032911414. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kreeftenberg J. G., Leerling M. F., Loggen H. G. B- and T-cell markers on human lymphoblasts after stimulation with mitogen or antigens. Clin Exp Immunol. 1975 Oct;22(1):121–125. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lange A., Smolik R., Zatoński W., Szymańska J. Autoantibodies and serum immunoglobulin levels in asbestos workers. Int Arch Arbeitsmed. 1974 Jan 31;32(4):313–325. doi: 10.1007/BF02178970. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lieben J. Malignancies in asbestos workers. Arch Environ Health. 1966 Nov;13(5):619–621. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1966.10664628. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Magner D., McDonald A. D. Malignant mesothelial tumors - histologic type and asbestos exposure. N Engl J Med. 1972 Sep 14;287(11):570–571. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Mangi R. J., Dwyer J. M., Kantor F. S. The effect of plasma upon lymphocyte response in vitro. Demonstration of a humoral inhibitor in patients with sarcoidosis. Clin Exp Immunol. 1974 Dec;18(4):519–528. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Miller K., Kagan E. The in vivo effects of asbestos on macrophage membrane structure and population characteristics of macrophages: a scanning electron microscope study. J Reticuloendothel Soc. 1976 Aug;20(2):159–170. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Muchmore A. V., Nelson D. L., Kirchner H., Blaese R. M. A reappraisal of the effector cells mediating mitogen induced cellular cytotoxicity. Cell Immunol. 1975 Sep;19(1):78–90. doi: 10.1016/0008-8749(75)90293-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Möller G., Möller E. The concept of immunological surveillance against neoplasia. Transplant Rev. 1976;28:3–16. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Prehn R. T., Lappé M. A. An immunostimulation theory of tumor development. Transplant Rev. 1971;7:26–54. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.1971.tb00462.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Robbins J. H., Gart J. J., Levis W. R., Burk P. G. The millipore filter assay technique for measuring tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA in leucocyte cultures. Clin Exp Immunol. 1972 Aug;11(4):629–640. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Schwartz R. S. Another look at immunologic surveillance. N Engl J Med. 1975 Jul 24;293(4):181–184. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197507242930406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sherwood G., Blaese R. M. Phytohaemagglutinin-induced cytotoxic effector lymphocyte function in patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). Clin Exp Immunol. 1973 Apr;13(4):515–520. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Stansfield D., Edge J. R. Circulating rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies in shipyard asbestos workers with pleural plaques. Br J Dis Chest. 1974 Jul;68(0):166–170. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(74)90034-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Stell P. M., McGill T. Asbestos and laryngeal carcinoma. Lancet. 1973 Aug 25;2(7826):416–417. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)92275-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Turner-Warwick M. Immunology and asbestosis. Proc R Soc Med. 1973 Sep;66(9):927–930. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. WAGNER J. C., SLEGGS C. A., MARCHAND P. Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province. Br J Ind Med. 1960 Oct;17:260–271. doi: 10.1136/oem.17.4.260. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Webster I. Asbestos and malignancy. S Afr Med J. 1973 Feb 3;47(5):165–171. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Wisloff F., Froland S. S., Michaelsen T. E. Characterization of subpopulations of human lymphoid cells participating in phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A-induced cytotoxicity. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1974;47(4):488–497. doi: 10.1159/000231243. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Experimental Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES