title: A new in vitro cellular system for the analysis of mineral fiber biopersistence.
abstract: The toxicity of mineral fibers, whether they are natural or man made (MMMF), is usually evaluated in vivo using biopersistence tests in rodents. Development of an in vitro cellular model would be worthwhile in order to reduce, refine and finally replace animal models. For this purpose, we developed an in vitro assay using human monocytic cell line (U-937) to evaluate a new manufactured rock wool fiber (HDN) biodegradation. Experiments on earlier known mineral fibers asbestos (crocidolite) and glass wool fibers (CM44) were also performed. U-937 responded to HDN and CM44 only if they were activated. Among the different activators we used, Escherichia coli living cells as well as FS were the most efficient as evidenced by alterations of HDN and CM44 surface, detected by scanning electron microscopy, and by the measure of silicon released from the rock wool fibers. Asbestos fibers were not degraded when incubated in the presence of living bacteria. The MMMF modifications were function of the fiber composition, the time of exposure to activated cells and the concentration of activators. The pattern of MMMF degradation by our in vitro system was in accordance with those observed in an in vivo study, thus indicating that the fiber degradation by macrophage cells activated by E. coli living cells as well as FS is a valuable system to assess mineral fibers' biopersistence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Bactériologie Virologie, Faculté de Médecine, Nancy-University, 9 Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, BP 184, 54505, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Hermine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dika Nguea
authors.forename: Aymon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Reydellet
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lehuédé
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Méringo
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robé
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Faou
authors.forename: Bertrand H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rihn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002460:Cell Line; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000633:toxicity*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D019016:Mineral Fibers