Natural mineral fibers may produce pulmonary cancers and mesothelioma. In contrast with lung cancer, the incidence of fiber-induced mesothelioma is not enhanced in smokers compared to non smokers. It is therefore of special interest to use mesothelial cells to study the toxicity of natural or man made mineral fibers. Several years ago, we have developed a method to culture rat pleural mesothelial cells (RPMC). We have first studied the effects of asbestos fibers by the application of in vitro tests formerly developed to determinedthe genotoxicity and transforming potency of soluble xenobiotics. Moreover, we have determined whether RPMC expressed cytochromes P450 known to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This paper reviews the results obtained so far. It has been found that asbestos fibers produced a cell transformation and a gentoxicity characterized by the formation of aneuploid cells, abnormal anaphases, chromosomal aberrations and DNA repair (UDS). In addition, RPMC expressed different forms of cytochromes P450. It is nowadays suggested that the tumorigenic potency of asbestos fibers may be related to the fiber dimensions, to their surface properties and in vivo biopersistence; this term involves the fiber solubility in biological medium and the fiber epuration from the lung by clearance mechanisms. Experiments are now in progress to determine whether the in vitro effects are dependent on the fiber parameters suggested as playing a role in the carcinogenic potency.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- B[a]P:
-
benzo[a]pyrene
- CAs:
-
chromosomal aberrations
- FBS:
-
fetal bovine serum
- MM:
-
malignant mesothelioma
- MMF:
-
man made fibers
- MMMF:
-
man made mineral fibers
- RPMC:
-
rat pleural mesothelial cell
- TEM:
-
transmission electron microscopy
- UDS:
-
unscheduled DNA synthesis
- UICC:
-
Union Internationale Contre le Cancer
References
ACHARD, S., PERDERISET, M., and JAURAND, M.C. (1987). “Sister chromatid exchanges in rat pleural mesothelial cells treated with crocidolite, attapulgite or benzo3–4 pyrene.” Br. J. Ind. Med. 44:281–283.
BARIS, I., SIMONATO, L., ARTVINLI, M., POOLEY, F., SARACCI, R., SKIDMORE, J., and WAGNER, C. (1987). “Epidemiological and environmental evidence of the health effects of exposure to erionite fibers: a four-year study in the Cappadocian region of Turkey.” Int. J. Cancer 39:10–17.
BLANQUART, C., ROMET, S., BAEZA, A., GUENNOU, C., and MARANO, F. (1991). “Primary Cultures of Tracheal Epithelial Cells for the Evauation of Respiratory Toxicity.” Toxicology In Vitro 5: 499–502.
BROWN, G.M., COWIE, H., DAVIS, J.M.G., and DONALDSON, K. (1986). “In vitro assays for detecting carcinogenic mineral fibers: a comparison of two assays and the role of the fiber size.” Carcinogenesis 7: 1971–1974.
BUARD, A., BEAUNE, P., RENIER, A., JAURAND, M.C., BIGNON, J., and LAURENT, Ph. Identification of enzymes involved in the bioactivation of procarcinogens in rat pleural mesothelial cells. Env. Respir. Rev.: in press.
DAVIS, J.M.G. (1989). “Mineral fiber carcinogenesis: experimental data relating to the importance of fiber type, size, deposition, dissolution and migration.” IARC Sci. Pub. 90:33–45.
DAVIS, J.M.G., BECKETT, S.T., BOLTON, R.E., COLLINGS, P., and MIDDLETON, A.P. (1978). “Mass number of fibers in the pathogenesis of asbestos-related lung disease in rats.” Br. J. Cancer 37: 673–688.
DE KLERK, N.H., MUSK, A.W., ECCLES, B.K., ARMSTRONG, B.K., and HOBBS, M.S.T. (Paris, September 30-October 2, 1991). “Incidence of mesothelioma after environmental exposure to a asbestos.” Intl. conference: “Mesothelial Cell and Mesothelioma. Past, Present and Future” Eur. Respir. Rev: in press.
HEAD, I. and WAGG, R. (1980). “A survey of occupational exposure to man-made mineral fiber dust.” Ann. Occup. Hyg. 23:235–258.
HESTERBERG, T.W. and BARRETT, J.C. (1984). “Dependence of asbestos- and mineral dust-induced transformation of mammalian cells in culture on fiber dimension.” Cancer Res. 44:2170–2180.
HESTERBERG, T.W. and BARRETT, J.C. (1985). “Induction by asbestos fibers of anaphase abnormalities: mechanism for aneuploidy induction and possibly carcinogenesis.” Carcinogenesis 6:473–475.
IARC (1988). Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Man-made mineral fibers and radon. Vol. 43, pp. 39–171.
JAURAND, M.C. (1991). “Mechanisms of fiber genotoxicity.” NATO Advanced Workshop on Mechanisms in Fiber Carcinogenesis. (R.C. Brown, J.A. Hoskins, eds.). Series A: Life Sciences Vol. 223; Plenum Press, New York. pp. 287–307.
JAURAND, M.C., BERNAUDIN, J.F., RENIER, A., KAPLAN, H., and BIGNON, J., (1981). “Rat pleural mesothelial cells in culture.” In Vitro 17:98–106.
JAURAND, M.C., FLEURY, J., MONCHAUX, G., NEBUT, M., and BIGNON, J. (1987). “Pleural carcinogenic potency of mineral fibers (Asbestos, attapulgite) and their cytotoxicity on cultured cells.” J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 79:797–804.
JAURAND, M.C., KAPLAN, H., THIOLLET, J., PINCHON, M.C., BERNAUDIN, J.F., and BIGNON, J. (1979). “Phagocytosis of chrysotile fibers by pleural mesothelial cells in culture.” Am. J. Pathol. 94:529–538.
JAURAND, M.C., KHEAUANG, L., MAGNE, L., and BIGNON, J. (1986). “Chromosomal changes induced by chrysolite fibers or benzo-3,4-pyrene in rat pleural mesothelial cells.” Mutat. Res. 169:141–148.
JAURAND, M.C., SAINT-ETIENNE, L., VAN DER MEEREN, A., ENDO-CAPRON, S., RENIER, A., and BIGNON, J. (1991). “Neoplastic transformation of rodent cells.” Cellular and molecular aspects of fiber carcinogenesis. Current communications in cell and molecular biology, vol. 2. (C.C. Harris, J.F. Lechner, B.R. Brinkley, eds.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, pp. 131–147.
KAMP, D.W., DUNNE, M., WEITZMAN, S.A., and DUNN, M.M. (1989). “The interaction of asbestos and neutrophils injuries cultured human pulmonary epithelial cells: role of hydrogen peroxide.” J. Lab. Clin. Med. 114:604–612.
LECHNER, J.F., TOKIWA, T., LAVECK, M., BENEDICT, W.F., BANKS-SCHLEGEL, S., YEAGER, H., BARNERJEE, A., and HARRIS, C.C. (1985). “Asbestos-associated chromosomal changes in human mesothelial cells.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 82:3884–3888.
LU, Y.P., LASNE, C., LOWY, R., and CHOUROULINKOV, I. (1988). “Use of the orthogonal design method to study the synergistic effects of asbestos fibers and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA in the BALB/3T3 cell transformation system).” Mutagenesis 3:355–362.
MCDONALD, C. and MCDONALD, J.C. (1986). “Epidemiology of malignant mesothelioma.” Asbestos-Related Malignancy. Grune & Stratton, Inc., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Pub., New York, London. Eds. K. Antman and J. Aisner. pp. 31–55.
MOSSMAN, B.T., EASTMAN, A., LANDESMAN, J.M., and BRESNICK, E. (1983). “Effects of crocidolite and chrysotile asbestos on cellular uptake and metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene in hamster tracheal epithelial cells.” Environ. Hlth. Perspect. 51:331–335.
OLOFSSON, K. and MARK, J. (1989). “Specificity of asbestos-induced chromosomal aberrations in short-term cultures human mesothelial cells.” Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 41:33–39.
OSHIMURA, M., HESTERBERG, T.W., and BARETT, J.C. (1986). “An early, nonrandom Karyotypic Change in Immortal Syrian hamster cell lines transformed by asbestos: trisomy of chromosome 11.” Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 22:225–237.
PALEKAR, L.D., EYRE, J.F., MOST, B.M., and COFFIN, D.L. (1987). “Metaphase and anaphase analysis of V79 cells exposed to erionite, UICC chrysotile and UICC crocidolite.” Carcinogenesis 8: 553–560.
PATéROUR, M.J., BIGNON, J., and JAURAND, M.C. (1985). “In Vitro transformation of rat pleural mesothelial cells by chrosotile and/or benzo[a]pyrene.” Carcinogenesis 6:523–529.
POTT, F., ZIEM, U., REIFFER, F., HUTH, F., ERNST, H., and MOHR, U. (1987). “Carcinogenecity studies of fibers, metal compounds and some other dusts in rats.” Exp. Path. 32: 129–152.
RENIER, A., LEVY, F., PILLIERE, F., and JAURAND, M.C. (1990). “Unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat pleural mesothelial cells treated with mineral fibers or benzo[a]pyrene.” Mutat. Res. 241:361–367.
SAINT-ETIENNE, L., ENDO-CAPRON, S., and JAURAND, M.C. (in press). “In vitro neoplastic transformation of rat pleural mesothelial cells.” Eur. Respir. Rev.
TOURAY, J.C., BAILLIF, P., JAURAND, M.C., BIGNON, J., and MAGNE, L. (1987). “Etude comparative de l'adsorpsion d'acide désoxyribonucléique sur le chrysotile et le chrysotile phosphorylé (chrysophosphate).” Can. J. Chem. 65:508–511.
VAN DER MEEREN, A., FLEURY, J., NEBUT, M., MONCHAUX, G., JANSON, X., and JAURAND, M.C. (1992). “Mesothelioma in rats following intrapleural injection of chrysotile and phosphorylated chrysotile (chrysophosphate).” Int. J. Cancer. 50:937–942.
WAGNER, J.C., BERRY, G., and TIMBRELL, V. (1973). “Mesothelioma in rats after inoculation with asbestos and other material.” Br. J. Cancer 28:173–185.
WAGNER, J.C., SLRGGS, C.A., and MARCHAND, P. (1960). “Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province.” Br. J. Ind. Med. 17:260–271.
WANG, N.S. (1985). “Mesothelial cells in situ.” The Pleura in Health and Disease. J. Chretien, J. Bignon and A. Hirsch, Eds. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, Basel. pp. 23–42.
WANG, N.S., JAURAND, M.C., MAGNE, L., KHEUANG, L., PINCHON, M.C., and BIGNON, J. (1987). “The interactions between asbestos fibers and metaphase chromosomes of rat pleural mesothelial cells in culture. A scanning and transmission electron microscopic study.” Am. J. Pathol. 126:343–349.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Renier, A., Yegles, M., Buard, A. et al. Use of mesothelial cell cultures to assess the carcinogenic potency of mineral or man made fibers. Cell Biol Toxicol 8, 133–139 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00130520
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00130520