The mechanism of asbestos-induced cytotoxicity
Crocidolite asbestos fibers constitute a serious environmental pollutant capable of causing pleural scarring and cancer. This thesis addresses three questions: (1) what is the mechanism of asbestos-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo (2) What is the influence of fiber size on cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo (3) What is the chronic response of the peritoneal cavity to asbestos fibers of varying lengths Macrophages release reactive oxygen metabolites when exposed to crocidolite in vitro or in vivo. Crocidolite-induced cytotoxicity is prevented with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. In addition, presoaking crocidolite fibers in deferoxamine, prevents cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, macrophages exposed to crocidolite also lose mitochondrial membrane potential and undergo lipid peroxidation. Neither of these changes in itself, however, is responsible for macrophage death. We also examined the role of crocidolite fiber size in cytoxicity. Both long and short crocidolite fibers are toxic to macrophages in vitro via an oxidant dependent mechanism. Within the periotoneal cavity long crocidolite fibers are acutely cytotoxic and inflammatory while short fibers are not. Weekly intraperitoneal injections of long and native crocidolite asbestos fibers produced mesotheliomas in 20-40% of mice after 35-50 weeks. Neoplastic and preneoplastic cells were obtained from these mice, cultured, and characterized for in vitro transformation and in vivo tumorigenicity.
- Research Organization:
- Brown Univ., Providence, RI (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5154740
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ASBESTOS
CARCINOGENESIS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
EXPERIMENTAL NEOPLASMS
LIPIDS
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
MEMBRANES
MICE
MITOCHONDRIA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PATHOGENESIS
PERITONEUM
PHAGOCYTES
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
SEROUS MEMBRANES
SIZE
SOMATIC CELLS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES