title: Beryllium disease.
abstract: Berylliosis is an environmental chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung caused by inhalation of insoluble beryllium (Be) dusts and characterized by the accumulation of CD4+ T cells and macrophages in the lower respiratory tract. In response to Be inhalation, noncaseating granuloma formation and, eventually, fibrosis. The immunopathogenic process is maintained by Be-specific lung CD4+ T-lymphocytes. Consistent with the disease immunopathology, these Be-specific T cells have a T-helper 1 phenotype producing interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma, the macrophage-activating cytokine driving the granulomatous reaction. Previous studies have demonstrated that the glutamic acid in position 69 of the human leukocyte antigen class II b chain is strongly associated with increased susceptibility to Be in exposed workers, suggesting that human leukocyte antigen gene markers may be used as epidemiological probes to identify population groups at higher risk.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Modena, Italy. saltini@unimo.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saltini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amicosante
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001607:Berylliosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001608:Beryllium; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D001608:Beryllium