Search

[Display omitted] • Unaltered lung tissue samples from former asbestos workers were studied. • Combined x-ray tomography and x-ray spectroscopy were exploited. • The 3D morphology and mass density of selected asbestos bodies were revealed. • Quantitative elemental analysis revealed similar composition of the asbestos bodies. • The Fe content in the asbestos bodies was higher than that contained in asbestos. In the lungs, asbestos develops an Fe-rich coating (Asbestos Body, AB) that becomes the actual interface between the foreign fibers and the host organism. Conventional approaches to study ABs require an invasive sample preparation that can alter them. In this work, a novel combination of x-ray tomography and spectroscopy allowed studying unaltered lung tissue samples with chrysotile and crocidolite asbestos. The thickness and mass density maps of the ABs obtained by x-ray tomography were used to derive a truly quantitative elemental analysis from scanning x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy data. The average mass density of the ABs is compatible with that of highly loaded ferritin, or hemosiderin. The composition of all ABs analyzed was similar, with only minor differences in the relative elemental fractions. Silicon concentration decreased in the core-to-rim direction, indicating a possible partial dissolution of the inner fiber. The Fe content in the ABs was higher than that possibly contained in chrysotile and crocidolite. This finding opens two opposite scenarios, the first with Fe coming from the fiber bulk and concentrating on the surface as long as the fiber dissolves, the second where the Fe that takes part to the formation of the AB originates from the host organism Fe-pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main problems related to ferruginous-asbestos bodies (ABs) exposure is their potential pathogenetic role in asbestos-related diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether purified ABs, might stimulate inflammatory cells. ABs were isolated by exploiting their magnetic properties, therefore avoiding the strong chemical treatment usually employed for this purpose. This latter treatment, which is based upon the digestion of organic matter with concentrated hypochlorite, may markedly modify the AB structure and consequently also their "in vivo" manifestations. ABs were found to induce secretion of human neutrophil granular component myeloperoxidase, as well as stimulate rat mast cell degranulation. Data demonstrated that by triggering secretory processes in inflammatory cells, purified ABs may play a role in the pathogenesis of asbestos-related diseases by continuing and enhancing the pro-inflammatory activity of the asbestos fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]