Skip Navigation



ToxSci Advance Access published online on June 19, 2007
Toxicological Sciences, doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfm166
This Article
Right arrow Advance Access manuscript (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
99/1/277    most recent
kfm166v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Blake, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Pfau, J. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Blake, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Pfau, J. C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Internalization of Libby Amphibole Asbestos and Induction of Oxidative Stress in Murine Macrophages

David J. Blake*, Celeste M. Bolin{dagger}, David P. Cox{dagger}, Fernando Cardozo-Pelaez{dagger} and Jean C. Pfau{dagger}

* Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812 {dagger} Department of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812

Corresponding Author Mailing Address: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, Phone: (406) 243-4529. Fax: (406) 243-2807, Email: jean.pfau{at}umontana.edu.

Received April 4, 2007; revision received May 24, 2007; accepted June 14, 2007


  Abstract

The community members of Libby, Montana have experienced significant asbestos exposure and developed numerous asbestos related diseases (ARD) including fibrosis and lung cancer due to an asbestos contaminated vermiculite mine near the community. The form of asbestos in the contaminated vermiculite has been characterized in the amphibole family of fibers. However, the pathogenic effects of these fibers have not been previously characterized. The purpose of this study is to determine the cellular consequences of Libby amphibole exposure in macrophages compared to another well characterized amphibole fiber; crocidolite asbestos. Our results indicate that Libby asbestos fibers are internalized by macrophages and localize to the cytoplasm and cytoplasmic vacuoles similar to crocidolite fibers. Libby asbestos fiber internalization generates a significant increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) as determined by DCFDA and DHE fluorescence indicating that the superoxide anion is the major contributing ROS generated by Libby asbestos. Elevated superoxide levels in macrophages exposed to Libby asbestos coincide with a significant suppression of total SOD activity. Both Libby and crocidolite asbestos generate oxidative stress in exposed macrophages by decreasing intracellular GSH levels. Interestingly crocidolite asbestos, but not Libby asbestos, induces significant DNA damage in macrophages. This study provides evidence that the difference in the level of DNA damage observed between Libby and crocidolite asbestos may be a combined consequence of the distinct chemical compositions of each fiber as well as the activation of separate cellular pathways during asbestos exposure.

Key Words: asbestos; Libby amphibole; murine macrophage; oxidative stress; DNA damage.

Authors Email Addresses: david.blake{at}umontana.edu, celeste.bolin{at}umontana.edu, david.cox{at}umontana.edu, fernando.cardozo{at}umontana.edu, jean.pfau{at}umontana.edu


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.