title: Chronic exposure to benzene results in a unique form of dysplasia.
abstract: Hematotoxicity following chronic benzene exposure has been recognized for over a century, although the mechanism remains unknown. We describe a novel form of bone marrow dysplasia in 23 workers exposed to high concentrations of benzene. Distinguishing features of benzene-induced dysplasia include: marked dyserythropoiesis, eosinophilic dysplasia and abnormal cytoplasmic granulation of neutrophilic precursors. Hematophagocytosis, stromal degeneration and bone marrow hypoplasia are also seen. Severe bone marrow dysplasia is frequently accompanied by clonal T cell expansion and alterations in T lymphocyte subsets. No clonal cytogenetic abnormalities were observed. These results suggest that autoimmune-mediated bone marrow injury is an early or predisposing event in the pathogenesis of benzene-induced persistent hematopoietic disease.
authors.affiliation: Sino-US Joint Clinical and Molecular Laboratory, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. richard.irons@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Irons
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Sherilyn A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Xibiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Xiao Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Yimei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lizhaung
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Anh T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kerzic
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000473:pathology; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001554:Benzene