Asbestos and the IMMUNE SYSTEM The immune system can have a major impact on an individual's health. When it is strong and working well, it can fight off disease and help repair injury. If one has a weak immune system no matter the reason, healing can be slowed, and susceptibility to disease increases. When the im- mune system is overactive, it can begin attacking parts of the body that it perceives as abnormal, even though they are not. This can lead to actual autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatic, and others. The Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD), through years of collaboration with our partners, especially at Montana State University and Idaho State University, have researched the role of the immune system in Asbestos Related Disease (ARD). There is a higher prevalence of various autoimmune disorders in those exposed to Libby Amphibole than in the general popula- tion. Ongoing work is being done in this area. The asbestos fibers in the lungs appear as a foreign body to the immune system, similar to a splinter in a finger. The body's response to a foreign body is to attack it and try to either break it down or expel it from the body. Unfortunately, asbestos fibers cannot be broken down and are too deep within the body to be expelled. The immune system continues this fight against the fiber, leading to chronic inflammation, which can lead to scarring. This scarring manifests as thickening of the pleural membrane surrounding the lung and scarring within the lung itself. It is believed that a more robust immune response over time can lead to disease progression. Those with a lesser immune response to the fibers may have less progression over time. This chronic inflammatory state likely leads to a vicious circle in which chronic inflamma- tion stimulates increased immune response, in turn causing more chronic inflammation. This may eventually affect other tissues outside the lung, leading to autoimmune disease. One of the chem- icals that the immune system produces are proteins called antibodies. These are necessary to fight illness. Vaccinations are a way to stimulate antibodies against a specific disease. When an antibody is targeted in error at a normal tissue within the body, they are called autoantibodies. Research projects conducted by CARD and our partners have identified certain markers that sug- gest an association with Libby Amphibole asbestos related diseases. One is anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), which are associated with certain autoimmune disorders. Another of the more recently identified is mesothelial cell antibody (MCAA) and one of its more specific subtypes, anti-plas- minogen (anti-PLG). CARD is drawing blood for ANA, MCAA, and anti-PLG as part of our asbestos health screening program. Unlike ANA in some circumstances, MCAA and anti-PLG are not clinical tests and cannot be used to identify disease. However, in those who have been diag- nosed with Libby Amphibole-related ARD, these markers may be able to help us predict the future course of the disease, as there is some evidence that those with high MCAA and anti-PLG levels, as well as high ANA levels, may be more likely to have a more progressive form of the disease. In those who are not diagnosed, MCAA and anti-PLG are not currently known to indicate any spe- cific disease process and if positive, should not be a cause for concern. If you think you may have been exposed to vermiculite contaminated with Libby Amphibole while in Lincoln County, Montana, please contact CARD at (406) 293-9274 or visit the website at www. libbyasbestos.org. You may be eligible for a free asbestos health screening. CARD Center for Asbestos Related Disease + Call 293-9274 or stop by 214 E. 3rd St to pick up a screening application. Testing available locally or from a distance. Screening provided through CDC grant #5NU61TS000295. Ongoing care not covered. SCREENING // HEALTHCARE // EDUCATION // RESEARCH // OUTREACH Asbestos and the IMMUNE SYSTEM The immune system can have a major impact on an individual's health . When it is strong and working well , it can fight off disease and help repair injury . If one has a weak immune system no matter the reason , healing can be slowed , and susceptibility to disease increases . When the im- mune system is overactive , it can begin attacking parts of the body that it perceives as abnormal , even though they are not . This can lead to actual autoimmune diseases , such as lupus , rheumatoid arthritis , polymyalgia rheumatic , and others . The Center for Asbestos Related Disease ( CARD ) , through years of collaboration with our partners , especially at Montana State University and Idaho State University , have researched the role of the immune system in Asbestos Related Disease ( ARD ) . There is a higher prevalence of various autoimmune disorders in those exposed to Libby Amphibole than in the general popula- tion . Ongoing work is being done in this area . The asbestos fibers in the lungs appear as a foreign body to the immune system , similar to a splinter in a finger . The body's response to a foreign body is to attack it and try to either break it down or expel it from the body . Unfortunately , asbestos fibers cannot be broken down and are too deep within the body to be expelled . The immune system continues this fight against the fiber , leading to chronic inflammation , which can lead to scarring . This scarring manifests as thickening of the pleural membrane surrounding the lung and scarring within the lung itself . It is believed that a more robust immune response over time can lead to disease progression . Those with a lesser immune response to the fibers may have less progression over time . This chronic inflammatory state likely leads to a vicious circle in which chronic inflamma- tion stimulates increased immune response , in turn causing more chronic inflammation . This may eventually affect other tissues outside the lung , leading to autoimmune disease . One of the chem- icals that the immune system produces are proteins called antibodies . These are necessary to fight illness . Vaccinations are a way to stimulate antibodies against a specific disease . When an antibody is targeted in error at a normal tissue within the body , they are called autoantibodies . Research projects conducted by CARD and our partners have identified certain markers that sug- gest an association with Libby Amphibole asbestos related diseases . One is anti - nuclear antibodies ( ANA ) , which are associated with certain autoimmune disorders . Another of the more recently identified is mesothelial cell antibody ( MCAA ) and one of its more specific subtypes , anti - plas- minogen ( anti - PLG ) . CARD is drawing blood for ANA , MCAA , and anti - PLG as part of our asbestos health screening program . Unlike ANA in some circumstances , MCAA and anti - PLG are not clinical tests and cannot be used to identify disease . However , in those who have been diag- nosed with Libby Amphibole - related ARD , these markers may be able to help us predict the future course of the disease , as there is some evidence that those with high MCAA and anti - PLG levels , as well as high ANA levels , may be more likely to have a more progressive form of the disease . In those who are not diagnosed , MCAA and anti - PLG are not currently known to indicate any spe- cific disease process and if positive , should not be a cause for concern . If you think you may have been exposed to vermiculite contaminated with Libby Amphibole while in Lincoln County , Montana , please contact CARD at ( 406 ) 293-9274 or visit the website at www . libbyasbestos.org . You may be eligible for a free asbestos health screening . CARD Center for Asbestos Related Disease + Call 293-9274 or stop by 214 E. 3rd St to pick up a screening application . Testing available locally or from a distance . Screening provided through CDC grant # 5NU61TS000295 . Ongoing care not covered . SCREENING // HEALTHCARE // EDUCATION // RESEARCH // OUTREACH