title: Diseases caused by asbestos: mechanisms of injury and disease development.
abstract: Asbestos is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring fiber that has been linked to the development of malignant and fibrotic diseases of the lung and pleura. These diseases may be initiated by injury to epithelial cells and mesothelial cells by asbestos fibers through the formation of reactive oxygen intermediates. Elaboration of oxidants are also a consequence of inflammation, a hallmark of exposure to asbestos after inhalation or injection of asbestos fibers into animals. The type, size, and durability of asbestos fibers may be important in toxicity and pathogenicity of asbestos types. This review discusses the pathways of oxidant generation by asbestos fibers, cell-cell interaction that may initiate and perpetuate inflammation, cytokine release and proliferative responses to asbestos, and cell signaling pathways implicated in these events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Val
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vallyathan
authors.forename: Brooke T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mossman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D001194:Asbestos