T‐cell alveolitis in lung lavage of asbestos‐exposed subjects

Abstract

In sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it has been reported that lymphocyte proportions in lung lavage predict the subsequent clinical course. Recent evidence has suggested that lymphocytes are important in the alveolitis of asbestosis. We hypothesized that a greater relative proportion of T-lymphocytes in lung lavage of asbestos-exposed subjects is associated with immune activation and may predict the subsequent clinical course. We assessed lymphocyte subsets in lung lavage and peripheral blood (PB) of 97 asbestos-exposed subjects and 10 unexposed normal, using flow cytometry analysis of monoclonal antibody-treated cells. T-cell alveolitis was defined as follows: [%lymphocytes in lavage x %CD3 in lavage] greater than 2 SD above that product in normals. Eighteen subjects had T-cell alveolitis (group 1) and 79 did not (group 2). There were no significant differences between the groups in age, smoking status, duration of exposure, lung function results, or frequency of plaques or profusion greater than or equal to 1/0. Percent CD2 was higher in lavage of group 1 compared with group 2. There was a trend for higher %Ia in lavage of group 1 compared with group 2. These results identify a subgroup of asbestos-exposed subjects with T-cell alveolitis but no present excess of asbestos-related disease who may be at risk for future asbestos-related disease.

Flow cytometry in the exploration of the physiopathology of occupational lung disease.

“…The possibility of using lymphocyte proportions in BALF to predict the subsequent clinical course of asbestos related disease has also been investigated. 18 The study identified a subgroup of such workers with a T cell alveolitis, which could be identified by flow cytometry. Although this group had no present excess of asbestos related disease, it was suggested that they may be at risk of future asbestos related disease.…”

Προσδιορισμός Των Κυτταρικών Στοιχείων Του Βρογχοκυψελιδικού Εκπλύματος Σε Εργαζομένους Με Έκθεση Στον Αμίαντο

“…(107) , ενώ το βρογχοκυψελιδικό έκπλυμα παραμένει ουσιαστικό διαγνωστικό εργαλείο και μερικές φορές αποφασιστικό τόσο για την διερεύνηση των σύνθετων παθογενετικών μηχανισμών διαφόρων επαγγελματικών νοσημάτων όσο και για την ανακάλυψη των σωματίων αμιάντου που παραμένουν για αρκετές δεκαετίες στον πνεύμονα και σε όλες τις κοιλότητες, καταδεικνύοντας την έκθεση του ατόμου (56,106) . (77) . Υπέρ της άποψης ότι η λεμφοκυττάρωση δεν σχετίζεται σαφώς με το κάπνισμα, είναι και πολωνέζικη μελέτη της ίδιας εποχής (78) , κάτι που έρχεται σε αντίθεση με τα συμπεράσματά μας.…”