Asbestos Induced Alteration in Endothelial Cell Function

摘要

The purpose of this research was to investigate whether asbestos (1332214)induces an active endothelial cell phenotype, resulting in theincreased expression of growth factors and proteases, which are relevantto the development of fibrosis. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were cultured with asbestos and ceramic fibers. The findings indicated that endothelial cells respond to noncytotoxic concentrations of asbestos fibers with alterations in specific cell functions, which may be relevant to pulmonary diseases processes. The cells respond to both chrysotile (12001293) and crocidolite (12001284) asbestos fibers by changing cell morphology in focal areas of fiber contact, assuming a spindled appearance, indicative of the activated endothelial cell. A time dependent increase was noted in neutrophil binding to Intercellular-Adhesion-Molecule-1 and