Changes in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Indices Associated with Radiographic Classification in Coal Miners

Abstract

Previous studies on symptomatic coal miners have shown that alveolar macrophages, recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), release excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines. It has been proposed that these secretions may mediate cell injury and initiate the disease process. We hypothesized that acellular bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) indices in coal miners chronically exposed to coal dust may reflect the status of important homeostatic modulations in the lung that lead to the development of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). To test this hypothesis, we measured inflammatory status, oxidant burden, antioxidant defenses, cytokines, growth factors, fibronectin, and alpha(1)-antitrypsin (alpha(1)-AT) in the BALF of healthy never-smoker control subjects, never-smoker underground coal miners with negative radiographs (ILO 0/0-1/0), and two miners with moderate changes in the chest radiographs (ILO 2/2). Interestingly, indices of injury and inflammation increased with the progression of disease in coal miners. Antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, showed a 19-fold, 22-fold, and 6-fold increase above control, respectively, in coal miners with category 2/2 CWP. Significant increases in the secretion of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, fibronectin, and alpha(1)-AT also were evident in coal miners with disease. This up-regulation of antioxidant defenses and cytokines was not evident in coal miners in the absence of clinically evident radiographic disease. In addition, the concentration of lipid peroxidation by products in the BALF of coal miners without evidence of radiographic disease showed a moderate 3-fold increase, whereas, in coal miners with category 2/2 CWP it showed a 59-fold increase compared to control subjects. These results are in good agreement with our hypothesis that development of CWP and its progression may be correlated with an oxidative stress and up-regulation of cytokines and mediators of growth.

Airway irritation among indoor swimming pool personnel: trichloramine exposure, exhaled NO and protein profiling of nasal lavage fluids

“…This is in agreement with previous studies showing specific up-regulation of this isoform in NLF from smokers (Ghafouri et al 2002) and patients with allergic rhinitis (Ghafouri et al 2006). Other studies has showed increased levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in coal miners with pneumoconiosis (Vallyathan et al 2000), as well as in people nonoccupationally exposed to asbestos (Archimandriti et al 2009). Lactoferrin is a protein with diverse effects, but is mostly recognized as having antimicrobial properties.…”

Immunotoxicology of arc welding fume: Worker and experimental animal studies

“…Taken together, the findings of this study were difficult for the authors to resolve given the strong evidence for pro-inflammatory lung effects of a variety of metal-rich particulates such as diesel exhaust, residual oil fly ash, particulate matter, zinc oxide, and coal dust (Blanc et al, 1991;Carter et al, 1997;Salvi et al, 2000;Vallyathan et al, 2000;Ulrich et al, 2002). The authors speculated that the high transitional metal levels in the lung must somehow impair lung host defense and provide a temporary window for infection.…”

Inflammatory responses to the occupational inhalation of metal fume

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