Tulinska, J, Dusinska, M, Jahnova, E, Liskova, A, Kuricova, M F, Ilavska, S, Horvathova, M, Wsolova, L, Kyrtopoulos, S, Machata, M, and Fuortes, Laurence
Recent research has implicated natural and man made mineral fibers as causes of lung disease. For these reasons, and because of the trend for substitution of asbestos with other man-made fibers, improved understanding, assessment and monitoring of the toxic effects of mineral fibers is increasingly important. Glass fibers belong to the family of synthetic inorganic fibers used as insulation materials.Immune and hematological parameters were examined in 80 workers exposed to glass fibres and 36 in-factory controls; and 61 workers exposed to asbestos fibres and 46 town and 21 in-factory unexposed controls, respectively. Cellular immunity was determined by phenotypic analysis of human peripheral blood leukocytes (CD3, HLA DR, CD4, CD8, CD16+56, CD19). Immune function assays-proliferative response of lymphocytes and phagocytic activity of leukocytes were evaluated in exposed and unexposed populations. Humoral immunity was evaluated by levels of immunoglobulins and concentrations of interleukins in serum. Moreover expression of activation markers on eosinophils, expression of adhesion molecules on leukocytes and levels of soluble adhesion molecules in sera were assessed.Multifactorial analysis of variance showed significantly decreased expression of marker CD16+56 (natural killer cells) in people exposed to glass fibres. The proliferative capacity of T-cells was significantly altered in both populations of workers exposed to fibres. In the case of people from a former asbestos cement plant, significant suppression of T-cell proliferative activity was found. On the other hand significant elevation of T-cell proliferative capacity was found in workers exposed to glass fibres. The levels of soluble adhesion molecule ICAM-1 were higher in people from the asbestos plant. Moreover significantly increased expression of CD62L (L-selectin) on monocytes and granulocytes was found. Exposure to glass fibre increased levels of E-selectin in sera of exposed subjects. Significantly increased levels of immunoglobulin E, concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 were found in abestos-exposed workers. Similar trend of elevated IL-8 was seen after glass fibre exposure. We found significantly increased expression in markers for activated eosinophils CD69 and CD66b among workers exposed to asbestos mineral fibres. Marker of CD66b was highly expressed also on peripheral blood eosinophils of humans exposed to glass fibres.Our findings indicate that occupational exposure to both types of fibres modulates the immune response. Suppression of T-cell immunity and, to a lesser extent, B-cell immunity, were found in the case of exposure to asbestos, while stimulation of T-cell response was observed in the glass fibre exposed population. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, levels of adhesion molecules in sera and elevated expression of activation markers on eosinophils may indicate hypersensitivity and an elevated inflammatory status in the exposed workers. This work was supported by the European Union (project no. QLK4-1999-01629, Fibretox), NIEHS Grant# 510 20 5240 00000 1 15010 9220 and Slovak Grant Agency for Science # 04.92.11.05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]