Asbestos, Lung Cancers, and Mesotheliomas

Abstract

Fifteen years have passed since we published findings in the AJRCMB demonstrating that induction of early response fos/jun protooncogenes in rodent tracheal and mesothelial cells correlates with fibrous geometry and pathogenicity of asbestos. Our study was the first to suggest that the aberrant induction of signaling responses by crocidolite asbestos and erionite, a fibrous zeolite mineral associated with the development of malignant mesotheliomas (MMs) in areas of Turkey, led to altered gene expression. New data questioned the widely held belief at that time that the carcinogenic effects of asbestos in the development of lung cancer and MM were due to genotoxic or mutagenic effects. Later studies by our group revealed that proto-oncogene expression and several of the signaling pathways activated by asbestos were redox dependent, explaining why antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes were elevated in lung and pleura after exposure to asbestos and how they alleviated many of the phenotypic and functional effects of asbestos in vitro or after inhalation. Since these original studies, our efforts have expanded to understand the interface between asbestos-induced redox-dependent signal transduction cascades, the relationship between these pathways and cell fate, and the role of asbestos and cell interactions in development of asbestos-associated diseases. Of considerable significance is the fact that the signal transduction pathways activated by asbestos are also important in survival and chemoresistance of MMs and lung cancers. An understanding of the pathogenic features of asbestos fibers and dysregulation of signaling pathways allows strategies for the prevention and therapy of asbestos-related diseases.

Carbon nanotubes and pleural damage: Perspectives of nanosafety in the light of asbestos experience

“…Nanoparticles and submicron particles were measured using a scanning mobility particle size and an optical particle counter. The exposure concentration of the workers was 2.9/ 0.39 ͑total/ respirable͒ g / m 3 and the automatization of the process reduced the exposure significantly to 0.29/ 0.08 ͑total/ respirable͒ g / m 3 . A limited number of studies reported a wide range of exposure values.…”

“…Nanomaterial emission was evident in different tasks, such as opening of the growth chamber, weighing, mixing, and sonication. During opening of growth chambers after the production of CNTs via pulsed laser deposition and chemical vapor deposition, maximum particle concentrations of 42.400 ͑10-10 000 nm͒, 0.35 ͑300-500 nm͒, and 0.4͑500-1000 nm͒ particles/ cm 3 were measured. The same activity in a sealed system with vacuum exhaust reduced the number to 300 particles/ cm 3 and 0.…”

“…Inflammation and interaction of asbestos fibers with other cell types ͑e.g., macrophages͒ may also play a role in cytokines elaboration and deregulation of proproliferative and antiapoptotic pathways. 3 On the other hand, carbon nanotubes ͑CNTs͒ are molecular-scale one-dimensional manufactured materials that have the potential to be used in several applications in engineering and materials science. 4 Indeed, CNTs and asbestos share comparable physical properties.…”

Serum Levels of Alpha-Tocopherol, Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene, and Retinol in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

“…These include pleural irritation, interference with mitosis, persistent kinase-mediated signaling and generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (Heintz et al, 2010). Individual variability in the antioxidant and/or detoxifying mechanisms probably has an important role in the development of asbestos-related lung disease.…”

Bronchogenic Carcinomas- A Review

“…Asbestos fibres are silicate fibres that can persist for a lifetime in lung tissue following exposure to asbestos [26]. This exposure to asbestos increases five times higher risk of developing lung cancer.…”