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In vitro cytotoxicity of chrysotile asbestos to human pulmonary alveolar macrophages is decreased by organosilane coating and surfactant

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Human pulmonary alveolar macrophages were used to quantitate the cytotoxic effect of surface-altered chrysotile asbestos. Little difference was observed in mortality between chrysotile asbestos that was surface-treated to a 42% extent by a hydrophobic organosilane or untreated chrysotile. Little or no effect on mortality was observed when human pulmonary alveolar macrophages were cultured with untreated chrysotile or acid-leached asbestos in the presence of 10 mM dipalmitoyl lecithin. However, when human pulmonary alveolar macrophages were cultured with a hydrophobically-treated (to a 42% or 95% extent) chrysotile asbestos in the presence of 10 mM dipalmitoyl lecithin, a statistically significant decrease in mortality was observed compared to untreated chrysotile. No mutagenic activity was observed when V79 cells were cultured with acid-leached, or 42% hydrophobically-treated chrysotile asbestos, even when human pulmonary alveolar macrophages were included as an activation source. The 95% hydrophobically-treated and acid-leached chrysotile also exhibited decreased binding of benzo[a]pyrene compared to untreated chrysotile asbestos.

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Abbreviations

AHH:

aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

B(a)P:

benzo[a]pyrene

CA:

chrysotile asbestos

CHO:

Chinese hamster ovary

DL:

dipalmitoyl lecithin

DMEM:

Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium

FBS:

fetal bovine serum

Or :

resistance to ouabain

PAH:

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PAM:

pulmonary alveolar macrophage

SCE:

sister chromatid exchange

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Morrison, D.G., McLemore, T.L., Lawrence, E.C. et al. In vitro cytotoxicity of chrysotile asbestos to human pulmonary alveolar macrophages is decreased by organosilane coating and surfactant. Cell Biol Toxicol 2, 293–309 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122697

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