Content of Visceral Antibodies Depending on the Form of Bronchopulmonary Pathology in Aluminum Industry Workers

Abstract

We conducted immunological examination of men 40–69 years of age working in the aluminum industry with occupational bronchopulmonary conditions of various etiologies (chronic non-obstructive bronchitis (CNB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). Persistent polyclonal immunosuppression was observed in both CNB (95% of cases) and COPD (85%). We recorded differences in the production of antibodies (ABs) depending on the form of bronchopulmonary conditions. We detected an increase in the levels of ABs against the S100, β1-AdrR, GFAP, AdrM proteins in CNB. We found a decrease in ABs against LuS and β2-GP I combined with an increase in ABs against GFAP in COPD. These changes in the content of visceral ABs are more likely to reflect destructive and inflammatory processes in the corresponding tissue structures and, consequently, different mechanisms of disease. Using discriminant analysis, we determined the most sensitive indicators in the CNB diagnosis: ABs against membrane antigens of lung tissue (LuM), ABs against the S100 protein, which is a regulator of cellular functions, and ABs against cytoplasmic antigens of neutrophils (ANCA). The data can help to improve the quality of diagnosis of occupational bronchopulmonary conditions in aluminum industry workers and provide the most optimal treatment options.