Assessment of immune status in children with functional respiratory system disorders, living in aerogenic aluminium exposure zone

Abstract

Aim. To assess the immune status in children of primary school age with functional disorders of the respiratory system, who live in the territory with location of industrial enterprise, producing aluminium.
 Materials and methods. Fifty-two children aged 711 years with respiratory system disorders, who live in the zone of exposure of aluminium-producing enterprise were examined. Cellular differentiation marker CD127, protein Bcl-2 and TNFR receptor expression levels were identified using the method of flow cytometry. Phagocytic activity of the cells was studied using formalinized sheep erythrocytes; IgG content was determined with radial immunodiffusion method; beta2-microglobulin level with enzyme immunoassay. Functional status of respiratory system was assessed using spirometry, rhinomanometry methods but functional reserves with calculated Skibinskaya index.
 Results. The prevalence of allergic diseases in the examined children was 2,4 times higher and allergic rhinitis was diagnosed 3,2 times more often than in the group of comparison. The prevalence of bronchial asthma, clinical signs of chronic lympho-proliferative diseases reliably exceeded the level observed in children of comparison group (29.4 %, р = 0.001). There were established the changes in immune reactivity versus the comparison group, manifested by increase in percentage of phagocyting cells, beta2-microglobulin protein, IgG, CD127, TNFR and specific IgG to aluminium by 1.1, 1.2, 1.0, 1.7, 2.5 and 1.2 times, respectively; suppression of protein
 Bcl-2 expression by 2,6 times (p 0.05) was registered.
 Conclusions. Among children aged 711 years, who live in the territory with localized aluminium-producing enterprise, the diseases of respiratory organs with allergic component, reliably associated with aluminium compound contamination, were diagnosed more often than in children of comparison group. Immunologic study detected imbalance between humoral and cellular components of immunity: hyperproduction of specific IgG to aluminium, excess expression of proteins and beta2-microglobulin receptors, IgG, CD127, TNFR and deficit of Bcl-2.

Trends detected in children’s health and their relation with basic aerogenic risk factors under exposure to specific ambient air contamination caused by metallurgic and wood-processing enterprises

“…A basic mechanism for effects produced by aerotechnogenic chemical risk factors on the hormone, nervous, and immune system is activation or suppression of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis that can result in hormonal imbalance [17,18]. Neuroendocrine impacts on the immune system functioning are related to the nervous system being able to perform direct or indirect control over various hormones secretion; they are also related to «inverse» influence exerted by hormones on neuromediators [18,19]. When certain chemicals (chromium, lead, phenol, copper oxide, etc.)…”