Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0037116 (silicosis)
 1,822 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of crystal-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis was evaluated using a mouse model of silicosis and congenitally complement-deficient mice. Mice lacking the fifth component of complement (B10.D2/o) were compared to C5-sufficient animals (B10.D2/n) for pulmonary changes following intratracheal instillation of silica crystals. Complement-deficient mice demonstrated a significant reduction compared to complement-sufficient mice in both cell number and protein content of lung lavage fluid throughout the 12 weeks following silica exposure. Lung hydroxyproline content (indicative of collagen deposition) was equivalent for both strains and significantly higher than controls at all time points following silica instillation. Moreover, studies in vitro have shown that silica crystals are capable of activating complement via the alternative pathway. These studies indicate that the complement system may be responsible for some of the pulmonary inflammation, but not fibrosis elicited by silica exposure.
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PMID:The role of complement in experimental silicosis. 301 83

A 68-year-old man who had worked as a stone mason for more than 50 years with a heavy smoking history consulted our clinic with symptoms of cough, low grade fever, weightloss, malaise and a single expectoration of hemo-sputum. He had been diagnosed as silicosis by the mass survey 5 years ago based on nodular shadows with egg-shell calcification in hilar lymphnodes on his chest radiography, and has received chest radiographic examination once a year. As the author was not so familiar with the radiographic features of silicotuberculosis, it was difficult to interprete ill-defined contour of silicotic nodules accompanied by patchy opacities formation in right midlung field and silicotic conglomeration accompanied by an ischemic cavity in the left basal segments. A definitive diagnosis could not be established until 10 months later when a second attack of exacerbation of silicotuberculosis occurred showing multiple thin walled fresh tuberculous cavities on the chest radiography with positive smear and culture. Among multiple tuberculous cavities, there was a cirrhotic-walled cavity caused by endogenous reactivation of a quiescent tuberculous lesion on the right apex. This lesion was considered to be the source of dissemination of this case. Finally, it took about two and a half years before establishing the diagnosis in this case because of a series of doctors delays. He was treated successfully with antituberculous drugs for one and a half years including one year rifampicin medication. The clinico-pathological findings of silicotic conglomeration in the left basal segments were discussed based on the findings of transbronchial biopsy from occluded B10 and chest radiographic findings, and it was revealed that silicotic conglomeration might consist of inflammatory granulation combined with granulomatous tubercle, but not a fibrous lesion.
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PMID:[A case of silicotuberculosis with difficulty in its diagnosis]. 1652 7

Silicosis is characterized by chronic lung inflammation and fibrosis, which are seriously harmful to human health. Previous research demonstrated that uncontrolled T-helper (Th) cell immune responses were involved in the pathogenesis of silicosis. Lymphocytes also are reported to have important roles. Existing studies on lymphocyte regulation of Th immune responses were limited to T cells, such as the regulatory T (Treg) cell, which could negatively regulate inflammation and promote the process of silicosis. However, other regulatory subsets in silicosis have not been investigated in detail, and the mechanism of immune homeostasis modulation needs further exploration. Another regulatory lymphocyte, the regulatory B cell, has recently drawn increasing attention. In this study, we comprehensively showed the role of IL-10-producing regulatory B cell (B10) in a silicosis model of mice. B10 was inducible by silica instillation. Insufficient B10 amplified inflammation and attenuated lung fibrosis by promoting the Th1 immune response. Insufficient B10 clearly inhibited Treg and decreased the level of IL-10. Our study indicated that B10 could control lung inflammation and exacerbate lung fibrosis by inhibiting Th1 response and modulating the Th balance. The regulatory function of B10 could be associated with Treg induction and IL-10 secretion.
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PMID:Role of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells in modulating T-helper cell immune responses during silica-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis. 2735 7

Long-term exposure to crystalline silica leads to silicosis, which is characterized by persistent lung inflammation and lung fibrosis. Multiple immune cells have been demonstrated to participate in crystalline silica-induced immune responses. Our previous study indicated that B10 could control lung inflammation through modulating the Th balance in experimental silicosis in mice. However, the regulatory mechanism of B10 on CD4+ T cells is still unclear. MACS-sorted CD19+ B cells from the three different groups were cultured with CD4+ T cells either with or without transwell insert plates to evaluate the effects of B10 on CD4+ T cells, including Teff and Treg. B10 was eliminated by anti-CD22 application in vivo. Flow cytometry was used to test the frequencies of CD4+ T cells, and the expressions of the related cytokines were detected by real-time PCR and CBA. Insufficient B10 elevated the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and promoted Th responses in a way independent upon cell-cell contact in the Teff and B cell coculture system. B10 could both increase Treg activity and enhance conversion of Teff into Treg. Our findings demonstrated that B10 could affect Th responses by the release of IL-10, enhancing Treg functions and converting Teff into Treg.
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PMID:IL-10-Producing B Cells Suppress Effector T Cells Activation and Promote Regulatory T Cells in Crystalline Silica-Induced Inflammatory Response In Vitro. 2883 Dec 10