Parenchymal Abnormalities Asbestos Exposure and Disease Development

It isn't fair that so many have lost their lives due to asbestos related disease.  It is important to support continued research into understanding Mesothelioma and trying to find a cure.  One interesting study is called, "Relationship of pulmonary function to radiographic interstitial fibrosis in 2,611 long-term asbestos insulators. An assessment of the International Labour Office profusion score." By Miller A, Lilis R, Godbold J, Chan E, Selikoff IJ - Am Rev Respir Dis. 1992 Feb;145(2 Pt 1):263-70.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - Radiographic evidence of interstitial fibrosis (IF) secondary to asbestos inhalation (using the International Labour Office [ILO] profusion of small irregular opacities) was compared with FVC as an independent indicator of IF. In addition, spirometric indices of airflow (FEV1/FVC and FET25-75%) were correlated with the radiographic profusion score. A study of 2,611 long-term insulators was well designed for these analyses since all subjects were from the same trade, there were sufficient (n = 515) nonsmokers to assess the effects of asbestos exposure in the absence of smoking, most (60%, n = 1,557) of the workers had parenchymal abnormalities (scores greater than or equal to 1/0), and there was a greater prevalence of high scores than in other published series (347 workers or 13.3% had scores greater than or equal to 2/1). Looking at all subjects, the FVC decreased as profusion score increased. The FVC was abnormal (88.0% of predicted) even when the profusion score was clearly normal (0/0). The FVC was lower at any score in smokers and in workers with pleural thickening (more so with diffuse thickening). There was, however, no difference in FVC between intermediate scores 0/1 versus 1/0 and 1/2 versus 2/1. Airflow increased with greater profusion, tending to overcome a decrease seen at lesser profusion scores. These results provide a greater understanding of the relationships among profusion scores, smoking, pleural diseases, and pulmonary function."

Another interesting study is called, "Crocidolite asbestos increased 8 hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels in cellular DNA of a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL60" by Toru Takeuchi and Kanehisa Morimoto - Carcinogenesis Volume 15, Number 4 Pp. 635-639.  Here is an excerpt: "Crocidolite, one of the most carcinogenic asbestos fibers, induces the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from neutrophils and macrophages. Using HPLC combined with electrochemical detection, we determined that 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), a molecule typical of mutagenic oxidative DNA damage, was induced in the cellular DNA of a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL60, incubated with crocidolite. Crocidolite increased 8OHdG in the cellular DNA of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-differentiated HL60, which phagocytosed crocidolite. PMA-differentiated HL60 released ROS spontaneously, as determined by ESR with 5,5-dimethylpyrrolone-N-oxide as a spin trap. However, the release of ROS from the cell line did not increase after the addition of crocidolite. The addition of superoxide dismutase at a sufficient concentration to scavenge ROS released from the cell did not inhibit the 8OHdG increase induced by crocidolite. Cytochalasin B, which inhibited phagocytosis, did not inhibit the release of ROS. However, it inhibited the crocidolite-induced 8OHdG increase by 48.3%. Contrary to PMA-differentiated HL60, undifferentiated HL60 neither phagocytosed crocidolite nor showed a crocidolite-induced increase in 8OHdG formation. The 8OHdG increase induced by crocidolite was not correlated with ROS release, but with the internalization of crocidolite, suggesting that the increase was not due to an increase in ROS release from the cell but was due to the conversion of relatively inert ROS to highly reactive ROS, such as hydroxyl radicals, by crocidolite that was internalized and close to DNA."

A third study is called, "Association between asbestos exposure, cigarette smoking, myeloperoxidase (MPO) genotypes, and lung cancer risk" by Matthew B. Schabath, MS , Margaret R. Spitz, MD, MPH, George L. Delclos, MD, MPH, Gary B. Gunn, BS, Lawrence W. Whitehead, PhD, CIH, Xifeng Wu, MD, PhD" - American Journal of Industrial Medicine - Volume 42 Issue 1, Pages 29 – 37.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - Background - As observed in tobacco-associated carcinogenesis, genetic factors such as the polymorphic metabolic/oxidative enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) could modulate individual susceptibility to asbestos-associated carcinogenesis.  Methods - RFLP-PCR analysis identified the MPO genotypes in 375 Caucasian lung cancer cases and 378 matched controls. An epidemiological interview elicited detailed information regarding smoking history and occupational history and exposures. Results - Asbestos exposure was associated with a significantly elevated risk estimate (OR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.04-2.02). On stratified analysis, we found the MPO genotypes modified the effect of asbestos exposure on lung cancer risk. Specifically, G/G carriers who were exposed to asbestos had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.72 (95% CI; 1.09-2.66), while A-allele carriers (G/A + A/A) exposed to asbestos exhibited a reduced OR of 0.89 (95% CI; 0.56-1.44). The OR was further reduced to 0.73 (0.49-1.06) for A-allele carriers not exposed to asbestos. A similar trend was observed for the joint effects between the MPO genotypes and pack-years smoking. Next, all three risk factors (MPO genotypes, asbestos exposure, and smoking) were analyzed simultaneously for joint effects. Heavy smokers with the G/G genotype and a history of asbestos exposure demonstrated a statistically significant elevated risk estimate (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.16-4.11), while the A-allele carriers with the same exposure profile were at a lower risk for lung cancer (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 0.58-2.38). The A-allele genotypes demonstrated similar protective effects for the other three exposure profiles. Conclusions - For a similar level of exposure to established carcinogens, individuals with the MPO A-allele genotypes appear to have a reduced risk of lung cancer.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to these researchers.  If you found any of these excerpts interesting, please read the studies in their entirety.