Focused X-Ray Histological Analyses to Reveal Asbestos Fibers and Bodies in Lungs and Pleura of Asbestos-Exposed Subjects.
Asbestos bodies are the histological hallmarks of asbestos exposure. Both conventional and advanced techniques are used to evaluate abundance and composition in histological samples. We previously reported the possibility of using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) for analyzing the chemical composition of asbestos bodies directly in lung tissue samples. Here we applied a high-performance synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) set-up that could allow new protocols for fast monitoring of the occurrence of asbestos bodies in large histological sections, improving investigation of the related chemical changes. A combination of synchrotron X-ray transmission and fluorescence microscopy techniques at different energies at three distinct synchrotrons was used to characterize asbestos in paraffinated lung tissues. The fast chemical imaging of the XFM beamline (Australian Synchrotron) demonstrates that asbestos bodies can be rapidly and efficiently identified as co-localization of high calcium and iron, the most abundant elements of these formations inside tissues (Fe up to 10% w/w; Ca up to 1%). By following iron presence, we were also able to hint at small asbestos fibers in pleural spaces. XRF at lower energy and at higher spatial resolution was afterwards performed to better define small fibers. These analyses may predispose for future protocols to be set with laboratory instruments.
1Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences,University of Trieste,34149 Trieste,Italy.
Lorella
L
Pascolo
2Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste,Basovizza,34149 Trieste,Italy.
Alessandra
A
Gianoncelli
1Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences,University of Trieste,34149 Trieste,Italy.
Clara
C
Rizzardi
3Australian Synchrotron,3168 Clayton,Melbourne,VIC,Australia.
Martin
M
de Jonge
3Australian Synchrotron,3168 Clayton,Melbourne,VIC,Australia.
Daryl
D
Howard
3Australian Synchrotron,3168 Clayton,Melbourne,VIC,Australia.
David
D
Paterson
1Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences,University of Trieste,34149 Trieste,Italy.
Francesca
F
Cammisuli
4European Synchrotron Radiation Facility,38000 Grenoble,Cedex 9,France.
Murielle
M
Salomé
5Scientific Direction,Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO),National Cancer Institute,IRCCS,33081 Aviano (PN),Italy.
Paolo
P
De Paoli
6Institute for Maternal and Child Health,IRCCS Burlo Garofolo,34137 Trieste,Italy.
Mauro
M
Melato
7Division of Pathology,Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO),National Cancer Institute,IRCCS,33081 Aviano (PN),Italy.
Vincenzo
V
Canzonieri
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000737:chemistry*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001315:Australia; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014965:X-Rays
D001194:Asbestos
X-ray fluorescence; asbestos; calcium; iron; lung