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Chrysotile and rock wool fibers induce chromosome aberrations and DNA damage in V79 lung fibroblast cells

  • Interface Effect of Ultrafine Mineral Particles and Microorganisms
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Abstract

According to global estimates, at least 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposure. Chrysotile accounts for approximately 90% of asbestos used worldwide. Artificial substitutes can also be cytotoxic to the same degree as chrysotile. But only a few researchers focused on their genetic effects and mutagenicity information which is useful in evaluating the carcinogenicity of chemicals. In this study, chrysotile from Mangnai, Qinghai, China, and an artificial substitute, rock wool fiber were prepared as suspensions and were tested at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml in V79 lung fibroblasts. Chromosome aberrations were detected by micronucleus assay after exposure for 24 h, and DNA damage were estimated by single cell gel electrophoresis after exposure for 12, 24, or 48 h. According to the results, chrysotile and rock wool fibers caused micronuclei to form in a dose-dependent manner in V79 cells; olive tail moment values increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. When V79 cells were exposed to a concentration of 200 μg/ml, the degree of DNA damage induced by chrysotile fibers was greater than rock wool fibers. Our study suggests that both chrysotile and rock wool fibers could induce chromosome aberrations and DNA damage. These materials are worthy of further study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Donald L. Hill (University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA), an experienced, English-speaking scientific editor, for editing.

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Author notes

  1. Yan Cui and Ji Ma contributed equally to this study

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Yan Cui, Zhixia Han & Qingbi Zhang

  2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, 404 Hospital of Mianyang, Mianyang, 621000, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Ji Ma & Jianjun Deng

  3. B-Ultrasound Room, Yilong County People’s Hospital of Nanchong City, Nanchong, 637676, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Ye

  4. Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and the Resource Recycle, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Faqin Dong

Authors
  1. Yan Cui
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  2. Ji Ma
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  3. Wei Ye
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  4. Zhixia Han
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  7. Qingbi Zhang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jianjun Deng or Qingbi Zhang.

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Funding

This research was funded by the Key Program of National Nature Science Project of China (No. 41130746), the National Natural Fund Project of China (No. 41472046), and the Department of Sichuan Province Natural Science Foundation of China (14JC0126).

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All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in this study.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Cui, Y., Ma, J., Ye, W. et al. Chrysotile and rock wool fibers induce chromosome aberrations and DNA damage in V79 lung fibroblast cells. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 22328–22333 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9403-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9403-9

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