Protective role of B cells in sterile particulate–induced lung injury

Susceptibility to chronic beryllium (Be) disease (CBD) is linked to HLA-DP molecules possessing a glutamic acid at the 69th position of the β-chain (βGlu69), with the most prevalent βGlu69-containing molecule being HLA-DP2. We have previously shown that HLA-DP2–transgenic (HLA-DP2–Tg) mice exposed to Be oxide (BeO) develop mononuclear infiltrates in a peribronchovascular distribution and a beryllium-specific, HLA-DP2–restricted CD4+ T cell...