Abstract
The nature of the material forming the massive lesions in the lungs of coal workers has never been demonstrated. The concept that it was in fact massive fibrosis, implying that it consisted of collagen impregnated with coal dust, has been challenged only during the last ten years. It was agreed that the best chance of obtaining more definite information was from a combined study of the biochemical, pathological, ultrastructural, and immunological features of a number of lungs containing these lesions. Six cases which were found to contain suitable material were studied. The preliminary results obtained suggest that collagen is present in the capsule of these lesions but that at the centre it is replaced by another insoluble protein or proteins which is probably stabilized by some form of cross-linking. This protein complex accounts for one-third of the weight of the lesions, the remaining two-thirds consisting of approximately equal amounts of mineral dusts and calcium phosphate. Serum proteins were also observed but their association with the lesions has yet to be determined.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Avrameas S., Ternynck T. Biologically active water-insoluble protein polymers. I. Their use for isolation of antigens and antibodies. J Biol Chem. 1967 Apr 10;242(7):1651–1659. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bergman I. Determination of coal in formalin-fixed pneumoconiotic lungs. New method of tissue digestion using glacial acetic acid. Anal Chem. 1966 Mar;38(3):441–444. doi: 10.1021/ac60235a017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DeHoratius R. J., Abruzzo J. L., Williams R. C., Jr Immunofluorescent and immunologic studies of rheumatoid lung. Arch Intern Med. 1972 Mar;129(3):441–446. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones B. M., Edwards J. H., Wagner J. C. Absorption of serum proteins by inorganic dusts. Br J Ind Med. 1972 Jul;29(3):287–292. doi: 10.1136/oem.29.3.287. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NAGELSCHMIDT G., RIVERS D., KING E. J., TREVELLA W. DUST AND COLLAGEN CONTENT OF LUNGS OF COAL-WORKERS WITH PROGRESSIVE MASSIVE FIBROSIS. Br J Ind Med. 1963 Jul;20:181–191. doi: 10.1136/oem.20.3.181. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wagner J. C. Etiological factors in complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1972 Dec 29;200:401–404. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1972.tb40204.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wusteman F. S., Gold C., Wagner J. C. Glycosaminoglycans and calcification in the lesions of progressive massive fibrosis and in pleural plaques. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1972 Jul;106(1):116–118. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1972.106.1.116. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]