title: Differential in vitro cellular response induced by exposure to synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs) and asbestos crocidolite fibers.
abstract: In this study, we analyzed the effects of synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs) on a mesothelial (MeT5A) and a fibroblast cell line (NIH3T3), compared to those exerted by crocidolite asbestos fibers. SVFs (glass wool, rock wools) do not induce significant changes in cell mortality, whereas crocidolite asbestos fibers caused a dose-dependent cytotoxicity. We investigated the correlation between the fiber-induced cytotoxicity and the extent and type of interaction of the fibers with the cell surface, and we observed that SVFs, unlike crocidolite asbestos fibers, establish few and weak interactions. Moreover, after internalization, crocidolite asbestos fibers are often found free in the cytoplasm, whereas glass wool fibers are mainly localized inside cytoplasmic vacuoles. After treatments, we also detected signs of oxidative stress, revealed by an increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and by an induction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The lipoperoxidative damage was characterized by a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), an increase in the content of thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS) and a consumption of vitamin E, as a lipophilic antioxidant. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of fiber exposure on cell proliferation. and it was found that, unlike crocidolite asbestos fibers, SVFs did not induce a significant increase in DNA synthesis.
authors.affiliation: San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Via San Gallicano 25/A, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardinali
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flori
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dell'Anna
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campopiano
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casciardi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D051379:Mice; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000633:toxicity*; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019016:Mineral Fibers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C009753:fiberglass; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase