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Parietal pleural plaques and visceral pleural fibrosis are well-recognized stigmata of occupational asbestos exposure. However, their pathogenesis is poorly understood. Conceivably, phagocytosis of asbestos fibers by pleural mesothelial cells may stimulate the recruitment of fibroblasts to sites of asbestos-induced pleural injury. To test this hypothesis, rat parietal pleural mesothelial cells were cultured for 6 to 96 h with or without crocidolite or chrysotile asbestos fibers (concentration range, 2 to 100 micrograms/cm2). Asbestos fibers were actively phagocytosed by pleural mesothelial cells and were incorporated within phagosomes. Conditioned medium was assayed for chemotactic activity toward RL-87 rat lung fibroblasts and for fibronectin immunoreactivity. The effects of asbestos were compared with those of alpha-cristobalite (which is strongly fibrogenic), alpha-quartz (a less fibrogenic particulate), and carbonyl iron (a nonfibrogenic agent). Both types of asbestos stimulated the secretion of fibroblast chemoattractant activity by pleural mesothelial cells in a time-dependent manner. This effect peaked at 96 h in cultures containing 4 micrograms/cm2 of asbestos (P < 0.001). alpha-Cristobalite also enhanced the secretion of the mesothelial cell-derived chemoattractant, an effect that was maximal at a concentration of 20 micrograms/cm2 (P < 0.001). Furthermore, crocidolite, chrysotile, and alpha-cristobalite stimulated pleural mesothelial cell fibronectin synthesis. In contrast, alpha-quartz and carbonyl iron particles had no noticeable effect on either immunoreactive fibronectin secretion or chemoattractant release by pleural mesothelial cells. The ability of asbestos fibers and alpha-cristobalite particles to stimulate the secretion of the fibroblast chemoattractant, fibronectin, by pleural mesothelial cells may have relevance to the induction of pleural injury by fibrogenic particulates.

Silicosis is characterized by mononuclear cell aggregation with mineral particles and fibrosis. Lymphocytes are abundant in these lesions. We exposed inbred strains of mice to a respirable aerosol of cristobalite silica (70 mg/m3, 5 h/d, 12 d) or shamair. Silicosis evolved over months after exposure. The silica-exposed mice showed the accumulation of lymphocytes in alveolar spaces (seen in bronchoalveolar lavage), in lung parenchymal lesions and nodules, and in enlarged bronchial-associated lymphoid tissues and thoracic lymph nodes. The lung lymphocytes were predominantly CD4+ T cells, but numerous CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, and CD4- gammadelta-TCR+ T cells were present as well. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production was upregulated, suggesting a THelper-1-like response in silicosis. In silicotic lung tissue, mRNA transcripts for the macrophage-derived cytokines IL-12 and -18 were increased. IFN-gamma gene-deleted mice (C57Bl/6-Ifngtm1 Ts) exposed to silica developed less extensive silicosis and less lung collagen accumulation than wild-type mice. We hypothesize that there is a reiterative amplification cycle in which macrophages with silica may produce cytokines, such as IL-12 and -18, that attract and activate lymphocytes. These activated lymphocytes may then produce additional mediators that in turn attract and activate an expanded secondary population of macrophages. IFN-gamma would be a likely cause of macrophage activation in this cycle. More work is needed to understand the biological events that lead from the inhaled dust to the scarred lung, and to clarify the role of lymphocytes in this process.

The cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), derived from macrophages and other cells, may promote mononuclear cell inflammation and fibrosis in pulmonary silicosis. C3H/HeN mice were exposed to control air or to an aerosol of 70 mg/m3 cristobalite silica for 5 h/d for 12 days and examined at 2 and 16 weeks after exposure. This exposure resulted in murine silicosis, as manifested by focal mononuclear cell accumulations, diffuse interstitial fibrosis, lymphoid tissue enlargement, recruitment of inflammatory cells into BAL fluid, and increased total lung collagen. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with designed primers and membrane hybridization with biotinylated cDNA probes were used to assess the abundance of IL-1beta and TNFalpha mRNA. In situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probes was used to localize gene expression. Persistent overexpression of both IL-1beta and TNFalpha were found at 2 and 16 weeks in the lungs of silica-exposed mice compared with air-sham control mice. IL-1beta and TNFalpha expression localized to individual mononuclear cells in the alveolar spaces, groups of cells within the aggregate lesions, and scattered mononuclear cells in BALT and lymphoid nodules. Thus, cells producing IL-1beta and TNFalpha appear to be intimately associated with the evolving lesions of silicosis, and the lymphoid tissue of the lung may be important in driving the pathogenesis of this disease.

Experimental silicosis allows study of the mechanisms of lung injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. Inbred mice are an attractive species in which to study these mechanisms because of recent progress in murine immunology, molecular biology, and genetics. We exposed mice to an aerosol of silica and examined the effects of exposure dose, the evolution of disease features over time, and the variation in responses among four inbred strains. In C3H/HeN mice incremental cumulative exposure doses of cristobalite silica caused increased initial lung dust burden 12 to 16 weeks post-exposure, progressively intense pathological responses, and increased total lung collagen (hydroxyproline). The histopathological changes and total lung collagen increased progressively over time after exposure. We compared the features of silicosis in four strains of inbred mice selected for common use or immunologic reactivity 16 weeks after aerosol inhalation exposure to crystalline cristobalite silica (70 mg/m3, 5 hours/day, 12 days). C3H/HeN mice demonstrated histopathological silicotic lesions and enlarged intrapulmonary lymphoid tissue, and increased lung wet weight, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) recovery of macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, and total lung collagen (hydroxyproline). BALB/c mice developed slight pulmonary lesions; MRL/MpJ mice demonstrated prominent pulmonary infiltrates with lymphocytes; New Zealand Black mice developed extensive alveolar proteinaceous deposits, inflammation, and fibrosis. Our findings demonstrate orderly dose-time-response relationships, and a substantial variation of responses among inbred strains of mice. This model should prove valuable for future experimental interventions into the mechanisms of silicosis.

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) a cytokine having potent mitogenic activity for epithelial and mesenchymal cells, may play a role in the lung remodeling of silicosis. Lung macrophages are among the major cells producing TGF-alpha in a lung tissue. A pivotal event in the cascade of pathologic events leading to pulmonary silicosis is the interaction between inhaled silica and macrophages. TGF-alpha may be critical in directing the proliferation of type II pneumocytes that characterize silicosis. An inhalation model of brief exposure of pathogen-restricted male rats to 25 mg/M3 cristobalite, a highly reactive form of silicon dioxide was used to study experimental silicosis. This model is characterized by a rapid, intense, and sustained increase in macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in both alveolar and interstitial compartments of the lung. TGF-alpha was measured in an A431 cell proliferation assay made specific with the use of anti-TGF-alpha neutralizing antiserum in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and conditioned media harvested from cultured alveolar and interstitial macrophages. Soluble TGF-alpha levels found in ELF were slightly elevated above control values during the exposure period, then increased 5-fold during the 20 weeks after the 8-day exposure period. Secretion of TGF-alpha by macrophages was elevated during exposure to cristobalite but then fell during the early post exposure period. Marked elevations in TGF-alpha secretion from both interstitial and alveolar macrophages (10- and 12-fold, respectively) occurred 8-16 weeks after cessation of exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Knowledge about the health effects of exposure to formaldehyde associated with automotive emissions is of pivotal importance in the risk assessment of this agent. Mobile sources emit many combustion-derived pollutants, including formaldehyde, in association with respirable carbon particles. Because it is hydrophilic, most of the inhaled formaldehyde is absorbed in the upper respiratory tract. However, if the organic vapor is adsorbed on respirable particles, formaldehyde may be deposited in the deep lung with the inhaled particles and may be available to interact adversely with cells along the lung parenchyma. On the respiratory surface, the alveolar macrophage phagocytic system plays the pivotal role in defending the lung against infectious agents. Susceptibility to respiratory infections is a relevant and sensitive indicator of the adverse effects of air pollution because acute and chronic exposures to a variety of air pollutants have been shown to decrease pulmonary antibacterial defenses. The goal of this research was to investigate whether exposure to formaldehyde decreases resistance to respiratory infections through dysfunctions of the alveolar macrophage phagocytic system. The study also explored whether interactions between formaldehyde and respirable carbon black particles alter susceptibility to respiratory infections and impairment of alveolar macrophage phagocytosis by delivering adsorbed formaldehyde to the deep lung with the inhaled particles. A carbon black, Regal GR, was used in these studies as a surrogate for the carbonaceous core of Diesel particulate matter. This material was selected to represent the worst-case scenario because the carbon black was expected to adsorb formaldehyde strongly. To accomplish this goal, mice were exposed to formaldehyde and to carbon black and formaldehyde combinations; increased susceptibility to respiratory infections was quantified by alveolar macrophage-dependent intrapulmonary killing of Staphylococcus aureus after an inhalation challenge with the bacterium. The salient findings of the bactericidal studies are as follows: Fifteen parts per million (ppm)* formaldehyde impaired the intrapulmonary killing of S. aureus when exposure followed the bacterial challenge. One ppm formaldehyde impaired the intrapulmonary killing of S. aureus when exposure preceded and was continued after the bacterial challenge. Coexposures to target concentrations of 3.5 mg/m3 carbon black and 2.5 ppm formaldehyde, or 10 mg/m3 carbon black and 5 ppm formaldehyde after the bacterial challenge had no effect on the intrapulmonary killing of S. aureus. Preexposure for four hours per day for four days to target concentrations of 3.5 mg/m3 carbon black and 2.5 ppm formaldehyde had no effect on the intrapulmonary killing of S. aureus when the assay was performed one day after the cessation of exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alpha-cristobalite causes pulmonary interstitial disease in humans and experimental animals. Aerosol exposure of rats to cristobalite for 8 days results in early and sustained alveolar type II cell hyperplasia in areas of inflammation characterized by the presence of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Irregular interstitial fibrosis and coalescence of alveoli are apparent by day 120. The inflammatory response is characterized by increased lavage cell recoveries, principally macrophages and neutrophils. Lavage recoveries of protein, nonpolar lipid, phospholipid, and saturated phosphatidylcholine also are increased. The recovery ratio for two important surfactant phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol, is decreased at all points following exposure. Our morphologic analyses, together with results correlating lavage cell and lipid recoveries, point to the potential importance of macrophages and neutrophils in the epithelial cell response to cristobalite exposure.

Cristobalite is a crystalline silicon dioxide that elicits pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in humans and experimental animals. Exposure of rats to aerosols of respirable cristobalite for 8 days led to a rapid influx of neutrophils and macrophages into alveolar and tissue compartments of the lung followed by a more gradual accumulation of T lymphocytes. This inflammatory response persisted throughout 52 weeks after the end of the exposure. For some variables studied there appeared to be a cyclical nature to the response. Statistical analysis of alveolar cell populations and lung tissue weight, protein, and hydroxyproline showed significant time-dependent fluctuations. Histologic analysis revealed a progressive deposition of collagen and type II cell hyperplasia centered on airways, however, there appeared to be some correlation between fluctuations in alveolar cell populations and overall tissue pathology. The observed cellular and biochemical fluctuations and the persistence of the inflammatory response may be due to the presence of silica in the lung, which serves as a source of repetitive stimulation of lung cells.

The goal of this study was to develop an early marker of lung injury that might change in response to exposure to a mobile source emission. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)2 was chosen as an example of an atmospheric pollutant that is related to automobile emissions. Since reorganization of the connective tissue matrix of the lung occurs in response to injury, markers of connective tissue metabolism were selected as targets. Hydroxylysine became the marker of choice. It is an amino acid that is virtually exclusive to collagen, although it does occur in minimal amounts in other proteins. Furthermore, it is excreted in the urine, which makes it readily available for analysis using noninvasive techniques. Other markers evaluated as part of the study included angiotensin-converting enzyme as a marker of lung injury, desmosine as a marker of elastin degradation, and hydroxyproline as another marker of collagen metabolism. Male Fischer-344 rats were exposed in whole-body chambers to controlled concentrations of NO2 for various doses and periods of time. The concentrations of NO2 ranged from 0.5 to 30 parts per million (ppm); the rats were exposed for six hours per day for periods of two days to four weeks. Urine and bronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected and analyzed for the appropriate marker. In addition, pulmonary function studies and histologic examinations of the lungs were completed at selected time points. Urinary hydroxylysine concentration increased as a function of NO2 concentration during six-hour-per-day exposures for two days. This short-term exposure required relatively high doses to achieve significant changes in the hydroxylysine output. During one-week exposures to either 25 or 30 ppm NO2, there was an increase in urinary hydroxylysine associated with changes in lavage concentrations of angiotensin-converting enzyme and hydroxylysine. The lungs of these animals demonstrated histologic changes typical of oxidant injury. Four-week exposure protocols using 0.5 and 1 ppm NO2 were most interesting in terms of the sensitivity of the marker. There was minimal damage revealed by the histology and function studies, yet there were significant increases in the excretion of hydroxylysine. It appears that hydroxylysine can be indicative of exposure when other parameters are normal. It will require long-term follow-up of exposed rats to determine whether or not the change in marker concentration is predictive of damage. Hydroxylysine may be an excellent marker of exposure to oxidants in the human population. Controlled studies to establish base-line values are needed, followed by carefully controlled studies in individuals with connective tissue abnormalities of the lung.