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J Occup Environ Med 2000 Jan;42(1):19-24
Froom P, Lahat N,
The effect of past exposure to asbestos on natural killer (NK) cell number and
activity is uncertain. We measured NK cell number and activity in 1052 retired asbestos
workers without symptomatic lung disease, lung cancer, or mesothelioma and with a long
latency period from exposure; results were compared with those for 100 healthy age-matched
controls. The exposed workers showed a decreased NK cell activity and increased NK cell
number, yielding a 10.8 higher odds ratio for low NK activity per cell compared with
controls (95% confidence interval 6.4 to 18.4), which was due to both a decrease in NK
cell activity and an increase in NK cell number. Asbestos exposure of 10 years or more
increased the risk of low NK activity per cell. We conclude that exposure to asbestos is
associated with diminished effectiveness of NK cells and a concomitant increase in the
number of NK circulating cells.
*** POSTED FEBRUARY 22, 2000 ***
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