title: Mode of action of fibrous amphiboles: the case of Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The inhalation of fibrous amphiboles can result in pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although these fibres have the same disease-causing potential, their different morphologies and chemical composition can determine different biological activities. An unusual cluster of mesothelioma was evidenced in Biancavilla (Sicily) where no inhabitant had been significantly exposed to asbestos.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We herein discuss the mechanism of action of amphiboles, focusing on the fibres identified in the study area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human lung carcinoma cells have been exposed to two different materials: prismatic fluoro-edenite and fibres with fluoro-edenitic composition. Only in the second case, they exhibit features typical of transformed cells, such as multinucleation, prosurvival activity and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Accordingly, in vivo studies demonstrated that the fibrous sample only could induce a mesotheliomatogenic effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fibres with fluoro-edenitic composition behave similarly to the asbestos crocidolite, whose connection with inflammation and lung cancer is well established.
authors: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Ballan
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Del Brocco
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Loizzo
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Fabbri
authors: Zaira
authors: Z
authors: Maroccia
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Fiorentini
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Travaglione
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000633:toxicity*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D010316:Particle Size; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; C492470:fluor-edenite