title: Mechanisms of asbestos-induced squamous metaplasia in tracheobronchial epithelial cells.
abstract: Within 1 to 4 weeks after exposure to asbestos, differentiated rodent and human tracheobronchial epithelial cells in organ culture undergo squamous metaplasia, a putative preneoplastic lesion characterized by conversion of mucociliary cell types to keratinizing cells. The exogenous addition of retinal acetate (RA) to culture medium of hamster tracheal organ cultures reverses preestablished, asbestos-induced squamous metaplasia, although data suggest that the effectiveness of RA decreases as the length of time between exposure to asbestos and initial application of RA increases. alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), inhibits squamous metaplasia caused by asbestos or vitamin A deficiency, whereas addition of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), a structural analog of spermidine and inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, causes an enhancement of metaplasia under both circumstances. Basal cell hyperplasia and increased incorporation of 3H-thymidine by tracheal epithelial cells also are seen after addition of the polyamines, putrescine or spermidine, to tracheal organ cultures, an observation supporting the importance of polyamines in the development of this lesion. The use of retinoids and inhibitors of ODC could be promising as preventive and/or therapeutic approaches for individuals at high risk for development of asbestos-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Woodworth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edmondson
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mossman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001194:Asbestos / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D011073:Polyamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D011073:Polyamines; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; D001194:Asbestos; C009166:retinol acetate