Comparative evaluation of the phenotypic composition of lymphocytes in patients with occupational pathology of various genesis

Abstract

Introduction. One important aspect of modern research is the study of the role of the phenotypic composition of lymphocytes in the development of a variety of pathological processes. The aim of the study was to compare the phenotypic composition of lymphocytes and their intercellular cooperation in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SHL), with vibration disease (VD) from exposure to local vibration, with VD from combined exposure to general and local vibration, chronic mercury intoxication (CMI). Material and methods. The phenotypical structure of lymphocytes was estimated by the method of indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies to molecules CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD20+, CD25+, CD95+. Results. The general regularity of changes of an immunophenotype of lymphocytes in patients with the occupational pathology induced by the influence of physical and chemical factors was established to be the hyperactivation of immune responses characterized by an increase in the number of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD20+) of the various degree of expressiveness. Differences between the compared groups were characterized by an elevation increase in the number of mature T-lymphocytes (CD3+) in persons with SHL concerning patients with the VD from the combined impact of the general and local vibration, increase of natural killers (CD16+) in comparison with the VD due to a local vibration. The latter showed lower levels of early lymphocyte activation markers (CD25+) than BB due to combined exposure to local and general vibration and CMI. Features of pathogenetically significant intercellular interactions, manifested by a difference in number and composition of correlation pairs, are revealed. Discussion. The results show a different degree of expression of immune responses, which can be due to many factors (severity of the disease course, an initial background of immunoreactivity before starting work in harmful working conditions, work experience, etc.). Conclusion. The detected changes in the phenotypic composition of lymphocytes and their cooperation in patients with occupational pathology formed under the influence of physical and chemical factors seem to be due to the specificity of the affecting occupational factors and, as a result, the degree of expression of the pathological process.