Effects of Asbestos on the Random Migration of Rabbit Alveolar Macrophages

• Published in: Environmental health perspectives Vol. 60; pp. 387 - 393
• Main Authors: Myrvik, Quentin N., Knox, E. Ann, Gordon, Mark, Shirley, Pamela S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. National Institutes of Health. Department of Health, Education and Welfare 01-05-1985
• Subjects: Alveolar macrophages; Animal migration behavior; Animals; Asbestos; Asbestos - toxicity; Asbestos, Amosite; Asbestos, Crocidolite; Asbestos, Serpentine; BCG Vaccine - pharmacology; Cell migration inhibition tests; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chemical suspensions; Complement System Proteins - physiology; Female; Hexoses; In Vitro Techniques; Macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Male; Pentose phosphate cycle; Pentose Phosphate Pathway - drug effects; Phagocytosis; Pulmonary Alveoli - drug effects; Rabbits; Viability; Zymosan - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0091-6765; 1552-9924
• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8560387

The toxicity of sized and characterized chrysotile, crocidolite, and amosite preparations obtained from Dr. K. R. Spurny have been evaluated using alveolar macrophage (AM) migration inhibition assays and viability tests. These results have been compared with asbestos samples obtained from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). These latter samples are designated chrysotile A (RT), crocidolite (RT), and amosite (RT). In addition, filter-isolated preparations of chrysotile A (RT) that consisted mainly of large nonphagocytosable fibers were also tested. Chrysotile (Spurny) and sonicated chrysotile A (RT) produced 50% migration inhibition at about 115 μg/mL. Spurny crocidolite produced 50% migration inibition at about 340 μg/mL, whereas RT crocidolite produced 50% migration inhibition at about 230 μg/mL. RT amosite caused 50% migration inhibition at about 180 μg/mL, whereas Spurny amosite was inactive up to 500 μg/mL. The large nonphagocytosable chrystile A (RT) fibers produced 50% migration inhibition at about 66 μg/mL. This indicates that fibers can be toxic for AM through extracellular membrane contact. In general the results from the viability studies paralleled the migration inhibition observations. None of the asbestos preparations induced a burst in the hexose monophosphate shunt of BCG-immune AM at 1 mg/mL. BCG-immune AM were more susceptible to cell death than normal AM when incubated with chrysotile A (RT), amosite (RT) and zymosan. Migration inhibition induced by asbestos fibers probably reflects toxicity of the asbestos preparations and could play an important role in blocking normal alveolar clearance of inhaled particles.