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Harris EJA, Lim KP, Moodley Y, Adler B, Sodhi‐Berry N, Reid A, Murray CP, Franklin PJ, Musk AW(B, Klerk NH, Brims FJH. Low dose CT detected interstitial lung abnormalities in a population with low asbestos exposure. Am J Ind Med 2021; 64:567-575. [PMID: 33942336 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of low dose CT (LDCT) chest is becoming more widespread in occupationally exposed populations. There is a knowledge gap as to heterogeneity in severity and the natural course of asbestosis after low levels of exposure. This study reports the characteristics of LDCT-detected interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA). METHODS The Asbestos Review Program offers annual LDCT, health assessments, and pulmonary function tests to an asbestos-exposed cohort. Asbestosis was defined using the Helsinki Consensus statement and the presence of ILA defined using a protocol for occupational CT reports. At least two of three pulmonary function tests: forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ); forced vital capacity (FVC); and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) were required for analysis of physiological decline. RESULTS From 1513 cases, radiological ILA was present in 485 (32%). The cohort was 83.5% male with a median age of 68.3 years and a median (IQR) asbestos exposure of 0.7 (0.09-2.32) fiber/ml-year. A mixed occupation, mixed asbestos fiber cohort comprised the majority of the cohort (65.8%). Of those with ILA, 40 (8.2%) had an FVC decline of ≥10% and 30 (6.2%) had a DLco decline of ≥15% per year. Time since first exposure, increasing tobacco exposure and reported dyspnea were independently associated with the presence of ILA. CONCLUSIONS In this population with relatively low asbestos exposure, LDCT-detected ILA that fits criteria for asbestosis is common, but physiological decline is not. This mild chronic stable phenotype of asbestos-associated ILA contrasts with the traditionally accepted views that asbestosis requires high exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J. A. Harris
- Curtin Medical School Curtin University Perth Western Australia
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Perth Washington USA
| | - Kuan P. Lim
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Perth Washington USA
| | - Yuben Moodley
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Fiona Stanley Hospital Perth Washington USA
| | | | - Nita Sodhi‐Berry
- School of Population and Global Health University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia
| | - Alison Reid
- School of Public Health Curtin University Perth Western Australia
| | | | - Peter J. Franklin
- School of Population and Global Health University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia
| | - AW (Bill) Musk
- School of Population and Global Health University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia
| | - Nicholas H. Klerk
- School of Population and Global Health University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute Nedlands Western Australia Australia
| | - Fraser J. H. Brims
- Curtin Medical School Curtin University Perth Western Australia
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Perth Washington USA
- National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases Institute for Respiratory Health Perth Western Australia
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Cox LA. Nonlinear dose-time-response functions and health-protective exposure limits for inflammation-mediated diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109026. [PMID: 31927297 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Why have occupational safety regulations in the United States not been more successful in protecting worker health from mesothelioma risks, while apparently succeeding relatively well in reducing silicosis risks? This paper briefly discusses biological bases for thresholds and nonlinearities in exposure-response functions for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and asbestos, based on modeling a chronic inflammation mode of action (mediated by activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, for both RCS and asbestos). It applies previously published physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to perform computational experiments illuminating how different time courses of exposure with the same time-weighted average (TWA) concentration affect internal doses in target tissues (lung for RCS and mesothelium for asbestos). Key conclusions are that (i) For RCS, but not asbestos, limiting average (TWA) exposure concentrations also tightly constrains internal doses and ability to trigger chronic inflammation and resulting increases in disease risks (ii) For asbestos, excursions (i.e., spikes in concentrations); and especially the times between them are crucial drivers of internal doses and time until chronic inflammation; and hence (iii) These dynamic aspects of exposure, which are not addressed by current occupational safety regulations, should be constrained to better protect worker health. Adjusting permissible average exposure concentration limits (PELs) and daily excursion limits (ELs) is predicted to have little impact on reducing mesothelioma risks, but increasing the number of days between successive excursions is predicted to be relatively effective in reducing worker risks, even if it has little or no impact on TWA average concentrations.
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NLRP3 and CARD8 polymorphisms influence risk for asbestos-related diseases. J Med Biochem 2020; 39:91-99. [PMID: 32549782 DOI: 10.2478/jomb-2019-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate the association between NLRP3 rs35829419 and CARD8 rs2043211 polymorphisms and the risk of developing pleural plaques, asbestosis, and malignant mesothelioma (MM), and to study the influence of the interactions between polymorphisms and asbestos exposure on the risk of developing these diseases. Methods The case-control study included 416 subjects with pleural plaques, 160 patients with asbestosis, 154 subjects with MM and 149 subjects with no asbestos disease. The NLRP3 rs35829419 and CARD8 rs2043211 polymorphisms were determined using real-time PCR-based methods. In the statistical analysis, standard descriptive statistics was followed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression modelling. Results Asbestos exposure (medium and high vs low) was associated with the risk for each studied asbestos-related disease. An increased risk of pleural plaques was found for CARD8 rs2043211 at + TT genotypes (OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.01-2.16, p = 0.042). When the analysis was performed for MM patients as cases, and pleural plaques patients as controls, a decreased MM risk was observed for carriers of CARD8 rs2043211 TT genotype (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.27-1.00, p = 0.049). The interactions between NLRP3 rs35829419 and CARD8 rs2043211 genotypes did not influence the risk of any asbestos-related disease. However, when testing interactions with asbestos exposure, a decreased risk of asbestosis was found for NLRP3 CA+AA genotypes (OR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.60, p = 0.014). Conclusions The results of our study suggest that NLRP3 and CARD8 polymorphisms could affect the risk of asbestos-related diseases.
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Cox LA. Dose-response modeling of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated diseases: asbestos, lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma as examples. Crit Rev Toxicol 2020; 49:614-635. [PMID: 31905042 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2019.1692779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Can a single fiber of amphibole asbestos increase the risk of lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma (MM)? Traditional linear no-threshold (LNT) risk assessment assumptions imply that the answer is yes: there is no safe exposure level. This paper draws on recent scientific progress in inflammation biology, especially elucidation of the activation thresholds for NLRP3 inflammasomes and resulting chronic inflammation, to model dose-response relationships for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer risks caused by asbestos exposures. The modeling integrates a physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) front end with inflammation-driven two-stage clonal expansion (I-TSCE) models of carcinogenesis to describe how exposure leads to chronic inflammation, which in turn promotes carcinogenesis. Together, the combined PBPK and I-TSCE modeling predict that there are practical thresholds for exposure concentration below which asbestos exposure does not cause chronic inflammation in less than a lifetime, and therefore does not increase chronic inflammation-dependent cancer risks. Quantitative examples using model parameter estimates drawn from the literature suggest that practical thresholds may be within about a factor of 2 of some past exposure levels for some workers. The I-TSCE modeling framework explains previous puzzling aspects of asbestos epidemiology, such as why age at first exposure is a better predictor of lifetime MM risk than exposure duration. It may be a valuable tool for risk analysts when LNT assumptions are not justified due to inflammation response thresholds mediating dose-response relationships.
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Moloudizargari M, Moradkhani F, Asghari N, Fallah M, Asghari MH, Moghadamnia AA, Abdollahi M. NLRP inflammasome as a key role player in the pathogenesis of environmental toxicants. Life Sci 2019; 231:116585. [PMID: 31226415 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental toxicants (ET) results in specific organ damage and auto-immune diseases, mostly mediated by inflammatory responses. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been found to be the major initiator of the associated pathologic inflammation. It has been found that ETs can trigger all the signals required for an NLRP3-mediated response. The exaggerated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its end product IL-1β, is responsible for the pathogenesis caused by many ETs including pesticides, organic pollutants, heavy metals, and crystalline compounds. Therefore, an extensive study of these chemicals and their mechanisms of inflammasome (INF) activation may provide the scientific evidence for possible targeting of this pathway by proposing possible protective agents that have been previously shown to affect INF compartments and its activation. Melatonin and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are among the safest and the most studied of these agents, which affect a wide variety of cellular and physiological processes. These molecules have been shown to suppress the NLRP3 inflammasome mostly through the regulation of cellular redox status and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, rendering them potential promising compounds to overcome ET-mediated organ damage. In the present review, we have made an effort to extensively review the ETs that exert their pathogenesis via the stimulation of inflammation, their precise mechanisms of action and the possible protective agents that could be potentially used to protect against such toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Moloudizargari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Moradkhani
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narjes Asghari
- Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Marjan Fallah
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Asghari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | - Ali Akbar Moghadamnia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mohammad Abdollahi
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Toxicology and Diseases Group, The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Guo T, Hao H, Zhou L, Zhou F, Yu D. Association of SNPs in the TIMP-2 gene and large artery atherosclerotic stroke in southern Chinese Han population. Oncotarget 2018; 9:4698-4706. [PMID: 29435135 PMCID: PMC5797006 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) regulates the extracellular matrix degradation, which involved in vascular remodeling and dysfunction, destabilization of atherosclerotic plaque and many other pathological processes. The rupture of atherosclerotic plaque is the trigger of Large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke. We speculate that the Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TIMP-2 may have an association with LAA stroke. To prove this hypothesis, we conducted this case-control study. 250 LAA stroke patients and 250 healthy controls were collected for the analysis of TIMP-2 polymorphisms. Among six SNPs, we detected no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in control group. There was a significant difference in rs4789936 T allele frequency between patient and control groups (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.51-0.91, P = 0.009), which means lower risk of LAA stroke. We observed the rs4789936 had a decreased risk of LAA stroke according to the codominant (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.44-0.92, P = 0.026), dominant (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.43-0.88, P = 0.008), overdominant (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.48-0.98, P = 0.039), log-additive (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.51-0.91, P = 0.009) models analyses. However, these findings could only validate under dominant model (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.42-1.00, P = 0.049) after adjustment of gender and age. The results indicate a potential association between TIMP-2 variants and LAA stroke risk in southern Chinese Han population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tie Guo
- Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, Haikou, Hainan 570208, China
| | - Haizhen Hao
- Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, Haikou, Hainan 570208, China
| | - Lv Zhou
- Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, Haikou, Hainan 570208, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, Haikou, Hainan 570208, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, Haikou, Hainan 570208, China
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Schikowsky C, Felten MK, Eisenhawer C, Das M, Kraus T. Lung function not affected by asbestos exposure in workers with normal Computed Tomography scan. Am J Ind Med 2017; 60:422-431. [PMID: 28370144 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been suggested that asbestos exposure affects lung function, even in the absence of asbestos-related pulmonary interstitial or pleural changes or emphysema. METHODS We analyzed associations between well-known asbestos-related risk factors, such as individual cumulative asbestos exposure, and key lung function parameters in formerly asbestos-exposed power industry workers (N = 207) with normal CT scans. For this, we excluded participants with emphysema, fibrosis, pleural changes, or any combination of these. RESULTS The lung function parameters of FVC, FEV1, DLCO/VA, and airway resistance were significantly associated with the burden of smoking, BMI and years since end of exposure (only DLCO/VA). However, they were not affected by factors directly related to amount (eg, cumulative exposure) or duration of asbestos exposure. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm the well-known correlation between lung function, smoking habits, and BMI. However, we found no significant association between lung function and asbestos exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schikowsky
- Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
| | - Michael K. Felten
- Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
| | - Christian Eisenhawer
- Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
| | - Marco Das
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
- Department of Radiology; Maastricht University Medical Center; Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Kraus
- Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
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Thompson JK, MacPherson MB, Beuschel SL, Shukla A. Asbestos-Induced Mesothelial to Fibroblastic Transition Is Modulated by the Inflammasome. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2017; 187:665-678. [PMID: 28056339 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite the causal relationship established between malignant mesothelioma (MM) and asbestos exposure, the exact mechanism by which asbestos induces this neoplasm and other asbestos-related diseases is still not well understood. MM is characterized by chronic inflammation, which is believed to play an intrinsic role in the origin of this disease. We recently found that asbestos activates the nod-like receptor family member containing a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in a protracted manner, leading to an up-regulation of IL-1β and IL-18 production in human mesothelial cells. Combined with biopersistence of asbestos fibers, we hypothesize that this creates an environment of chronic IL-1β signaling in human mesothelial cells, which may promote mesothelial to fibroblastic transition (MFT) in an NLRP3-dependent manner. Using a series of experiments, we found that asbestos induces a fibroblastic transition of mesothelial cells with a gain of mesenchymal markers (vimentin and N-cadherin), whereas epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin, are down-regulated. Use of siRNA against NLRP3, recombinant IL-1β, and IL-1 receptor antagonist confirmed the role of NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent IL-1β in the process. In vivo studies using wild-type and various inflammasome component knockout mice also revealed the process of asbestos-induced mesothelial to fibroblastic transition and its amelioration in caspase-1 knockout mice. Taken together, our data are the first to suggest that asbestos induces mesothelial to fibroblastic transition in an inflammasome-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce K Thompson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Maximilian B MacPherson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Stacie L Beuschel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Arti Shukla
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont.
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Kurzawski M, Kaczmarek M, Kłysz M, Malinowski D, Kazienko A, Kurzawa R, Droździk M. MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP2 polymorphisms affect sperm parameters but not fertility in Polish males. Andrologia 2016; 49. [PMID: 27401679 DOI: 10.1111/and.12654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper function of the blood-testis barrier is pivotal to spermatogenesis. Synchronised action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their inhibitors (TIMP) is mandatory to maintain dynamic balance of the barrier. Therefore, the association of functional genetic variants of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 and male infertility was studied. A total of 416 infertile males and 421 healthy subjects were genotyped for 7 SNPs within MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP2 genes, along with the assessment of semen parameters (concentration, motility and morphology of spermatozoa). No association was observed between the studied genotypes and male infertility. However, higher sperm concentration was associated with TIMP2 rs8080623 C and rs2277698 T variants among infertile men, and with MMP9 rs17576 A minor allele in controls (p < .05). TIMP2 rs9900972 T and rs2277698 T allele were associated with higher percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa among controls. MMP2 rs2285053 TT homozygous infertile patients presented higher percentage of spermatozoa displaying nonprogressive motility. Haplotype analysis revealed strong linkage disequilibrium between the studied loci (5 of 8 possible TIMP2 haplotypes, and 3 of 4 possible MMP2 and MMP9 were found). None of the haplotypes showed association with infertility. This study results suggest an association between MMP9 and TIMP2 SNPs with sperm parameters, but not infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kurzawski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - M Kłysz
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - D Malinowski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - A Kazienko
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University, Police, Poland.,VitroLive Fertility Clinic, Szczecin, Poland
| | - R Kurzawa
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University, Police, Poland.,VitroLive Fertility Clinic, Szczecin, Poland
| | - M Droździk
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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Innate Immunity and Biomaterials at the Nexus: Friends or Foes. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:342304. [PMID: 26247017 PMCID: PMC4515263 DOI: 10.1155/2015/342304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Biomaterial implants are an established part of medical practice, encompassing a broad range of devices that widely differ in function and structural composition. However, one common property amongst biomaterials is the induction of the foreign body response: an acute sterile inflammatory reaction which overlaps with tissue vascularisation and remodelling and ultimately fibrotic encapsulation of the biomaterial to prevent further interaction with host tissue. Severity and clinical manifestation of the biomaterial-induced foreign body response are different for each biomaterial, with cases of incompatibility often associated with loss of function. However, unravelling the mechanisms that progress to the formation of the fibrotic capsule highlights the tightly intertwined nature of immunological responses to a seemingly noncanonical “antigen.” In this review, we detail the pathways associated with the foreign body response and describe possible mechanisms of immune involvement that can be targeted. We also discuss methods of modulating the immune response by altering the physiochemical surface properties of the biomaterial prior to implantation. Developments in these areas are reliant on reproducible and effective animal models and may allow a “combined” immunomodulatory approach of adapting surface properties of biomaterials, as well as treating key immune pathways to ultimately reduce the negative consequences of biomaterial implantation.
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Gaffney A, Christiani DC. Gene-environment interaction from international cohorts: impact on development and evolution of occupational and environmental lung and airway disease. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2015; 36:347-57. [PMID: 26024343 DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1549450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Environmental and occupational pulmonary diseases impose a substantial burden of morbidity and mortality on the global population. However, it has been long observed that only some of those who are exposed to pulmonary toxicants go on to develop disease; increasingly, it is being recognized that genetic differences may underlie some of this person-to-person variability. Studies performed throughout the globe are demonstrating important gene-environment interactions for diseases as diverse as chronic beryllium disease, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis, occupational asthma, and pollution-associated asthma. These findings have, in many instances, elucidated the pathogenesis of these highly complex diseases. At the same time, however, translation of this research into clinical practice has, for good reasons, proceeded slowly. No genetic test has yet emerged with sufficiently robust operating characteristics to be clearly useful or practicable in an occupational or environmental setting. In addition, occupational genetic testing raises serious ethical and policy concerns. Therefore, the primary objective must remain ensuring that the workplace and the environment are safe for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gaffney
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David C Christiani
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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12
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Wang X, Liu M, Liu Z, Niu Z, Liu S. The Association of CARD8 rs2043211 Polymorphism with Preeclampsia in the Chinese Han Population. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2015; 80:193-8. [PMID: 25895569 DOI: 10.1159/000377630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between polymorphism of rs2043211 in CARD8 and susceptibility to preeclampsia (PE) in the Chinese Han population. METHODS 261 PE patients and 451 controls were genotyped for rs2043211 with the method of TaqMan allele discrimination assays. Clinical data were collected to perform genotype-phenotype analysis. RESULTS Our study suggested that the rs2043211 variant was associated with the development of PE in the Chinese Han population. The genotypic and allelic frequencies differed significantly between the two groups (x03C7;2 = 8.198, p = 0.017 by genotype; x03C7;2 = 6.741, p = 0.009 by allele). The T allele was the risk allele for predisposition to PE (OR = 1.331, 95% CI 1.072-1.652). CONCLUSION The polymorphism of rs2043211 in CARD8 may be a relevant host susceptibility factor for the development of PE in the Chinese Han population.
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Perkins TN, Peeters PM, Shukla A, Arijs I, Dragon J, Wouters EFM, Reynaert NL, Mossman BT. Indications for distinct pathogenic mechanisms of asbestos and silica through gene expression profiling of the response of lung epithelial cells. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:1374-89. [PMID: 25351596 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Occupational and environmental exposures to airborne asbestos and silica are associated with the development of lung fibrosis in the forms of asbestosis and silicosis, respectively. However, both diseases display distinct pathologic presentations, likely associated with differences in gene expression induced by different mineral structures, composition and bio-persistent properties. We hypothesized that effects of mineral exposure in the airway epithelium may dictate deviating molecular events that may explain the different pathologies of asbestosis versus silicosis. Using robust gene expression-profiling in conjunction with in-depth pathway analysis, we assessed early (24 h) alterations in gene expression associated with crocidolite asbestos or cristobalite silica exposures in primary human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBEs). Observations were confirmed in an immortalized line (BEAS-2B) by QRT-PCR and protein assays. Utilization of overall gene expression, unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis and integrated pathway analysis revealed gene alterations that were common to both minerals or unique to either mineral. Our findings reveal that both minerals had potent effects on genes governing cell adhesion/migration, inflammation, and cellular stress, key features of fibrosis. Asbestos exposure was most specifically associated with aberrant cell proliferation and carcinogenesis, whereas silica exposure was highly associated with additional inflammatory responses, as well as pattern recognition, and fibrogenesis. These findings illustrate the use of gene-profiling as a means to determine early molecular events that may dictate pathological processes induced by exogenous cellular insults. In addition, it is a useful approach for predicting the pathogenicity of potentially harmful materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy N Perkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands,
| | - Paul M Peeters
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands,
| | - Arti Shukla
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Ingrid Arijs
- Department of Gastroenterology, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), and Gene Expression Unit, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Julie Dragon
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Emiel F M Wouters
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Niki L Reynaert
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Brooke T Mossman
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recent genetic findings have identified new targets of investigation in the field of pulmonary fibrosis and have the potential to change clinical care. RECENT FINDINGS These findings implicate alterations in host defense, cell-to-cell adhesion, and aging and senescence in the pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis. At least one common genetic variant strongly associated with pulmonary fibrosis appears to have prognostic implications for patients. SUMMARY The inherited risk for pulmonary fibrosis is substantial, and recent data suggest that genetic risk for familial and sporadic forms of the disease are similar. Further characterizing this genetic risk will influence clinical practice in terms of categorization, diagnosis, and screening of individuals for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan K. Mathai
- University of Colorado Denver, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - David A. Schwartz
- University of Colorado Denver, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
- National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
| | - Laura A. Warg
- University of Colorado Denver, Medical Scientist Training Program, Aurora, Colorado
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