Asbestos and benzo(a)pyrene act synergistically to induce squamous metaplasia and incorporation of (/sup 3/H)thymidine in hamster tracheal epithelium

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Carcinogenesis (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/5.11.1401· OSTI ID:5948422

Mossman, B T; Eastman, A; Bresnick, E

When exposed to either crocidolite asbestos (single 1-h exposure to 0.4 mg/ml medium) or the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) (less than or equal to 2.5 micrograms/ml medium, 1x weekly for 4 weeks), the epithelium of hamster tracheal explants exhibits insignificant amounts of squamous metaplasia, an atypical lesion, in comparison to amounts observed in untreated tissues. Incorporation of (/sup 3/H)thymidine, an indication of DNA synthesis by epithelial cells, likewise is unchanged. However, the extent of squamous metaplasia and numbers of labeled basal and suprabasal cells are increased substantially when BaP and asbestos are added in combination. These results suggest an important mechanism of co-carcinogenesis involving chemical and physical carcinogens and support epidemiologic observations documenting an increased risk of bronchogenic carcinoma in asbestos workers who smoke.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Vermont Coll. of Medicine, Burlington
• OSTI ID: 5948422
• Journal Information: Carcinogenesis (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 5:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ASBESTOS
CARCINOGENESIS
BENZOPYRENE
TRACHEA
EPITHELIOMAS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
DNA REPAIR
EPITHELIUM
HAMSTERS
IN VITRO
SYNERGISM
THYMIDINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
BODY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DISEASES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PYRIMIDINES
RECOVERY
REPAIR
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RIBOSIDES
RODENTS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
550901 - Pathology- Tracer Techniques