Abstract |
Several asbestos-like mineral fibres, including fluoro-edenite, may cause lung cancer and/or other lung diseases. However, biological and molecular mechanisms linked to cancer development after mineral fibre exposure have not been fully investigated. In the present study, human non-malignant mesothelial (MeT-5A) and human bronchoalveolar alveolar epithelial (A549) cell lines were incubated with rising concentrations of fluoro-edenite to evaluate the expression of retinoblastoma ( Rb) protein, which has been demonstrated to play an important role in cell cycle control and tumour progression. Intriguingly, these results show that Rb expression was unchanged, while the level of the phosphorylated protein increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting an involvement of this regulator protein in the pathogenesis of the lung diseases induced by mineral fibres. In conclusion, fluoro-edenite regulates the expression of phospho- retinoblastoma to trigger a network of signals strictly connected with cell proliferation and neoplastic cell transformation.
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Authors | Giuseppe Musumeci, Venera Cardile, Concettina Fenga, Silvia Caggia, Carla Loreto |
Journal | Cell biology and toxicology
(Cell Biol Toxicol)
Vol. 27
Issue 3
Pg. 217-25
(Jun 2011)
ISSN: 1573-6822 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 21327865
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Asbestos, Amphibole
- Mineral Fibers
- Phosphoproteins
- Retinoblastoma Protein
- fluor-edenite
- Cyclin D1
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
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Topics |
- Asbestos, Amphibole
(toxicity)
- Cell Line
- Cell Proliferation
(drug effects)
- Cell Survival
(drug effects)
- Cyclin D1
(metabolism)
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
(metabolism)
- Epithelial Cells
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Humans
- Mineral Fibers
(toxicity)
- Phosphoproteins
(metabolism)
- Phosphorylation
- Pulmonary Alveoli
(cytology)
- Retinoblastoma Protein
(metabolism)
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