Responses of human airways to inhaled chemicals.
A variety of complex pulmonary immunologic responses may follow the inhalation of reactive chemical haptens. Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is an industrial chemical used as a plasticizer (and serves as a model of occupational immunologic lung disease). Sensitization to TMA can take several forms--IgE-mediated asthma and rhinitis, a late reaction in the lung which resembles hypersensitivity pneumonitis and an irritated airways syndrome. Antibody studies show that TMA can combine with bodily constituents to form new antigenic determinants (NADs) which are probably the most immunogenic form of the compound.
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D003485:Cyanates / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003485:Cyanates; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C015559:trimellitic anhydride