title: Immunogenetic factors as determinants of asbestosis.
abstract: To evaluate the possible role of immunogenetic factors as predisposing determinants of the development of asbestosis in exposed workers, we obtained 53 phenotypes of the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A, B, C, and DR antigens in 72 long-term workers of the mines and mills of Quebec and in a reference population of 150 residents. Among the asbestos workers, 32 did not have any abnormality and 40 had asbestosis. The 2 groups did not differ in term of age, exposure, or cigarette smoking habits. In agreement with previous reports, we found no significant change in frequency of the HLA-A, B, or C phenotypes. Furthermore, we did not find any significant change in the frequency of 10 phenotypes of the HLA-DR loci. We conclude that immunogenetic factors are not major predisposing determinants of asbestosis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens