title: NK cell activity in asbestosis.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cell activity was studied in 40 asbestos workers with chest roentgenographic signs of asbestosis and 54 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. NK cell activity in asbestosis was 32.3 +/- 18.2%, significantly higher than that in healthy controls (17.4 +/- 12.2%). We also examined the relationship between NK cell activity and the duration of exposure, and that between NK cell activity and the ILO U/C classification of radiographs. NK cell activity tended to decrease relatively in the presence of lung cancer.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors