title: Functional Alteration of Natural Killer Cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes upon Asbestos Exposure and in Malignant Mesothelioma Patients.
abstract: Malignant mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is known to have carcinogenic effects. However, the development of mesothelioma takes a long period and results from a low or intermediate dose of exposure. These findings have motivated us to investigate the immunological effects of asbestos exposure and analyze immune functions of patients with mesothelioma and pleural plaque, a sign of exposure to asbestos. Here, we review our knowledge concerning natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). NK cells showed impaired cytotoxicity with altered expression of activating receptors upon exposure to asbestos, while induction of granzyme(+) cells in CD8(+) lymphocytes was suppressed by asbestos exposure. It is interesting that a decrease in NKp46, a representative activating receptor, is common between NK cells in PBMC culture with asbestos and those of mesothelioma patients. Moreover, it was observed that CD8(+) lymphocytes may be stimulated by some kind of "nonself" cells in plaque-positive individuals and in mesothelioma patients, whereas CTL in mesothelioma is impaired by poststimulation maintenance of cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that analysis of immunological parameters might contribute to the evaluation of health conditions of asbestos-exposed individuals and to a greater understanding of the pathology of malignant mesothelioma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasumitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumagai-Takei
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Suni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Glycobiochemistry, Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: Okayama Rosai Hospital, Okayama 702-8055, Japan.
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishimomiya 663-8501, Japan ; Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Kinki University, Sayama 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishimomiya 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuki
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000276:immunology*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos