Features of the immune status in occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of varying severity in coal mine workers

Abstract

Introduction. The peculiarities of the clinical course of bronchopulmonary diseases, which occupy a large place in the structure of occupational diseases in coal mine workers, are largely due to a violation of immune reactivity, which is important to take into account for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic measures.
 The study aims to explore the features of the immune status in occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of varying severity in coal mine workers.
 Materials and methods. The scientists have conducted a survey of 110 miners, who worked in underground conditions with an average concentration of aerosols of predominantly fibrogenic action at the workplace up to ten or more times higher than the maximum permissible concentrations, with an established diagnosis of occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The control group consisted of 89 trained miners who also worked in dust conditions above the maximum permissible concentrations, without bronchopulmonary pathology. The above groups had no statistical differences among themselves in age and work experience in dusty conditions. The authors also conducted an immunological examination.
 Results. Researchers have identified the features of the immune status in occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — the development of combined immune insufficiency with damage to the humoral link of immunity (decrease in serum immunoglobulin G) and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. At the same time, we have an increased level of proteins of the acute phase of inflammation (C-reactive protein and haptoglobin) and an increased level of circulating immune complexes as an indicator of a high antigenic load. In patients with severe occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the suppression of the humoral link of immunity increases (a decrease in the relative and absolute amount of CD20+ and the level of serum immunoglobulin G), as well as the phagocytic activity of neutrophils compared with patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of moderate severity and a comparison group that can contribute to the development and recurrence of the infectious and inflammatory process not only in the lungs, but also in other organs.
 Conclusion. The authors revealed the development of combined immune insufficiency with damage to the humoral link of immunity (decrease in serum immunoglobulin G) and phagocytic activity of neutrophils in miners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. With a severe degree of the disease, there are more pronounced violations of the humoral link of immunity and phagocytic activity of neutrophils.
 Ethics. This medical study with the participation of a person as a subject was carried out in compliance with the Ethical principles presented in the latest version of the Helsinki Declaration, developed by the World Medical Association.