The effect on prolonged inhalation of crocidolite asbestos on macrophage-lymphocyte interaction.

The effect of prolonged inhalation of crocidolite asbestos on the physical interactions between alveolar macrophages and the T-lymphocyte population was investigated. When macrophages from dusted rats (dusted macrophages) were cultured with lymphocytes, a prolonged physical interaction occurred followed by lymphocyte proliferation. It was demonstrated that dusted macrophages could bind lymphocytes nonspecifically due to the presence of aldehyde-like groups on the membrane. Dusted macrophages could also, as a consequence of antigen-like molecules appearing in the membrane, give rise to specifically sensitized lymphocytes.