Immunologic evaluation of occupational lung disease.
Many inhaled agents in the workplace can induce immunologic responses. Given the current state of clinical immunology, this article focuses on how to detect the body's response to those inhaled agents that behave as antigens. First the types of immunologic mechanisms that are activated in occupational lung disease are discussed, and the tests that reflect those states of immunologic activation. The second part of the article reviews major classes of occupational lung diseases and the immunologic tools that are available in making specific diagnoses.
D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D007073:Immunoglobulin E