Lowered Fc IgG receptor-bearing T lymphocytes correlate with non-organ-specific autoantibodies in silicosis.

A survey of silicosis patients and people exposed to silica dust was set up in an effort to look for any relationship between humoral and cell-mediated autoimmune phenomena. It was found that in both sets of subjects, the level of Fc IgG receptor-bearing T lymphocytes was significantly reduced, there was also an inverse correlation between these cell concentrations and IgG- and IgM-circulating immune complex levels. In addition, raised levels of various autoantibodies were found in both groups, however, none of the exposed subjects has developed silicosis to date.