Asbestos-induced Alveolar Epithelial Cell Research Articles

Asbestos-induced pulmonary fibrosis is augmented in 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase knockout mice.

Asbestos causes asbestosis and malignancies by mechanisms that are not fully established. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury and repair are crucial determinants of the fibrogenic potential of noxious agents such as asbestos. We previously showed that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species mediate asbestos-induced AEC intrinsic apoptosis and that mitochondrial human 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1), a DNA repair enzyme, prevents oxidant-induced AEC apoptosis. We reasoned that OGG1 deficiency augments asbestos-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Compared with intratracheal instillation of PBS (50 μl) or titanium dioxide (100 μg/50 μl), crocidolite or Libby amphibole asbestos (100 μg/50 μl) each augmented pulmonary fibrosis in wild-type C57BL/6J (WT) mice after 3 weeks as assessed by histology, fibrosis score, lung collagen via Sircol, and type 1 collagen expression; these effects persisted at 2 months. Compared with WT mice, Ogg1 homozygous knockout (Ogg1(-/-)) mice exhibit increased pulmonary fibrosis after crocidolite exposure and apoptosis in cells at the bronchoalveolar duct junctions as assessed via cleaved caspase-3 immunostaining. AEC involvement was verified by colocalization studies using surfactant protein C. Asbestos increased endoplasmic reticulum stress in the lungs of WT and Ogg1(-/-) mice. Compared with WT, alveolar type 2 cells isolated from Ogg1(-/-) mice have increased mtDNA damage, reduced mitochondrial aconitase expression, and increased P53 and cleaved caspase-9 expression, and these changes were enhanced 3 weeks after crocidolite exposure. These findings suggest an important role for AEC mtDNA integrity maintained by OGG1 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis that may represent a novel therapeutic target.

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway mediates chrysotile asbestos-induced alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis.

Exposure to chrysotile asbestos exposure is associated with an increased risk of mortality in combination with pulmonary diseases including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Multiple mechanisms by which chrysotile asbestos fibers induce pulmonary disease have been identified, however the role of apoptosis in human lung alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) has not yet been fully explored. Accumulating evidence implicates AEC apoptosis as a crucial event in the development of both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and asbestosis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether chrysotile asbestos induces mitochondria-regulated (intrinsic) AEC apoptosis and, if so, whether this induction occurs via the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Human A549 bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived cells with alveolar epithelial type II-like features were used. The present study showed that chrysotile asbestos induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in A549 cell viability, which was accompanied by the activation of the MAPK c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), but not the MAPKs extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38. Chrysotile asbestos was also shown to induce intrinsic AEC apoptosis, as evidenced by the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic genes Bax and Bak, alongside the activation of caspase-9, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and the release of cytochrome c. Furthermore, the specific JNK inhibitor SP600125 blocked chrysotile asbestos-induced JNK activation and subsequent apoptosis, as assessed by both caspase-9 cleavage and PARP activation. The results of the present study demonstrated that chrysotile asbestos induces intrinsic AEC apoptosis by a JNK-dependent mechanism, and suggests a potential novel target for the modulation of chrysotile asbestos-associated lung diseases.

Asbestos-Induced Alveolar Epithelial Cell Apoptosis. The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response

Asbestos exposure results in pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis) and malignancies (bronchogenic lung cancer and mesothelioma) by mechanisms that are not fully understood. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) apoptosis is important in the development of pulmonary fibrosis after exposure to an array of toxins, including asbestos. An endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and mitochondria-regulated (intrinsic) apoptosis occur in AECs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease with similarities to asbestosis. Asbestos induces AEC intrinsic apoptosis, but the role of the ER is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether asbestos causes an AEC ER stress response that promotes apoptosis. Using human A549 and rat primary isolated alveolar type II cells, amosite asbestos fibers increased AEC mRNA and protein expression of ER stress proteins involved in the unfolded protein response, such as inositol-requiring kinase (IRE) 1 and X-box-binding protein-1, as well as ER Ca²(2+) release ,as assessed by a FURA-2 assay. Eukarion-134, a superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetic, as well as overexpression of Bcl-XL in A549 cells each attenuate asbestos-induced AEC ER stress (IRE-1 and X-box-binding protein-1 protein expression; ER Ca²(2+) release) and apoptosis. Thapsigargin, a known ER stress inducer, augments AEC apoptosis, and eukarion-134 or Bcl-XL overexpression are protective. Finally, 4-phenylbutyric acid, a chemical chaperone that attenuates ER stress, blocks asbestos- and thapsigargin-induced AEC IRE-1 protein expression, but does not reduce ER Ca²(2+) release or apoptosis. These results show that asbestos triggers an AEC ER stress response and subsequent intrinsic apoptosis that is mediated in part by ER Ca²(2+) release.

P53 Mediates Amosite Asbestos–Induced Alveolar Epithelial Cell Mitochondria-Regulated Apoptosis

Asbestos causes pulmonary toxicity in part by generating reactive oxygen species that cause DNA damage. We previously showed that the mitochondria-regulated (intrinsic) death pathway mediates alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) DNA damage and apoptosis. Because p53 regulates the DNA damage response in part by inducing intrinsic cell death, we determined whether p53-dependent transcriptional activity mediates asbestos-induced AEC mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. We show that inhibitors of p53-dependent transcriptional activation (pifithrin and type 16-E6 protein) block asbestos-induced AEC mitochondrial membrane potential change (DeltaPsim), caspase 9 activation, and apoptosis. We demonstrate that asbestos activates p53 promoter activity, mRNA levels, protein expression, and Bax and p53 mitochondrial translocation. Further, pifithrin, E6, phytic acid, or rho(0)-A549 cells (cells incapable of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production) block asbestos-induced p53 activation. Finally, we show that asbestos augments p53 expression in cells at the bronchoalveolar duct junctions of rat lungs and that phytic acid prevents this. These data suggest that p53-dependent transcription pathways mediate asbestos-induced AEC mitochondria-regulated apoptosis. This suggests an important interactive effect between p53 and the mitochondria in the pathogenesis of asbestos-induced pulmonary toxicity that may have broader implications for our understanding of pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.

Fibroblast Growth Factor-10 Prevents Asbestos-Induced Alveolar Epithelial Cell Apoptosis by a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase–Dependent Mechanism

Asbestos induces alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) DNA damage and apoptosis by the mitochondria-regulated death pathway and oxidative stress. Fibroblast growth factor-10 (FGF-10), an alveolar epithelial type II cell mitogen that is required for the lung development, prevents H(2)O(2)-induced AEC DNA damage by a mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent mechanism. In this study, we show that FGF-10 attenuates asbestos-induced AEC DNA strand break formation and apoptosis. MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitors, U0126 or PD98059, each blocked the protective effect of FGF-10 against asbestos-induced DNA damage and apoptosis, whereas a p38-MAPK inhibitor had a negligible effect, suggesting a crucial role for MEK/ERK activation in mediating the protective effects of FGF-10. Further, we show that FGF-10 attenuates asbestos-induced change in AEC mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase 9 activation, both of which are blocked by U0126. We conclude that FGF-10 decreases asbestos-induced AEC DNA damage and apoptosis in part by mechanisms involving MEK/ERK-dependent signaling that affects the mitochondria-regulated death pathway.

Mitochondrial-derived free radicals mediate asbestos-induced alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis.

Asbestos causes pulmonary toxicity by mechanisms that in part involve reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the precise source of ROS is unclear. We showed that asbestos induces alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) apoptosis by a mitochondrial-regulated death pathway. To determine whether mitochondrial-derived ROS are necessary for causing asbestos-induced AEC apoptosis, we utilized A549-rho(omicron) cells that lack mitochondrial DNA and a functional electron transport. As expected, antimycin, which induces an oxidative stress by blocking mitochondrial electron transport at complex III, increased dichlorofluoroscein (DCF) fluorescence in A549 cells but not in A549-rho(omicron) cells. Compared with A549 cells, rho(omicron) cells have less asbestos-induced ROS production, as assessed by DCF fluorescence, and reductions in total glutathione levels as well as less caspase-9 activation and apoptosis, as assessed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining and DNA fragmentation. A mitochondrial anion channel inhibitor that prevents ROS release from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm also blocked asbestos-induced A549 cell caspase-9 activation and apoptosis. Finally, a role for nonmitochondrial-derived ROS with exposure to high levels of asbestos (50 microg/cm(2)) was suggested by our findings that an iron chelator (phytic acid or deferoxamine) or a free radical scavenger (sodium benzoate) provided additional protection against asbestos-induced caspase-9 activation and DNA fragmentation in rho(omicron) cells. We conclude that asbestos fibers affect mitochondrial DNA and functional electron transport, resulting in mitochondrial-derived ROS production that in turn mediates AEC apoptosis. Nonmitochondrial-associated ROS may also contribute to AEC apoptosis, particularly with high levels of asbestos exposure.

The mitochondria-regulated death pathway mediates asbestos-induced alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis.

The mechanisms underlying asbestos-induced pulmonary toxicity are not fully understood. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) apoptosis by iron-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one important mechanism implicated. The two major pathways regulating apoptosis include (i) the mitochondrial death (intrinsic) pathway caused by DNA damage, and (ii) the plasma-membrane death receptor (extrinsic) pathway. However, it is unknown whether asbestos activates either death pathway in AEC. We determined whether asbestos triggers AEC mitochondrial dysfunction by exposing cells (A549 and rat alveolar type II) to amosite asbestos and assessing mitochondrial membrane potential changes (deltapsi(m)) using a fluorometric technique involving tetremethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) and mitotracker green. Unlike inert particulates (titanium dioxide and glass beads), amosite asbestos caused dose- and time-dependent reductions in deltapsi(m). Asbestos-induced deltapsi(m) was associated with the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm as well as activation of caspase 9, a mitochondrial-activated caspase. In contrast, a lower level of caspase 8, the death receptor-activated caspase, was detected in asbestos-exposed AEC. An iron chelator (phytic acid or deferoxamine) or a hydroxyl radical scavenger (sodium benzoate) each blocked asbestos-induced reductions in deltapsi(m) and caspase 9 activation, suggesting a role for iron-derived ROS. Finally, Bcl-X(L), a mitochondrial antiapoptotic protein that prevents cell death by preserving the outer mitochondrial membrane integrity, blocked asbestos-induced decreases in A549 cell deltapsi(m) and reduced apoptosis as assessed by DNA fragmentation. We conclude that asbestos-induced AEC apoptosis results from mitochondrial dysfunction, in part due to iron-derived ROS, which is followed by the release of cytochrome c and caspase 9 activation. Our findings suggest an important role for the mitochondria-regulated death pathway in the pathogenesis of asbestos-associated pulmonary toxicity.

Asbestos-induced alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis: role of mitochondrial dysfunction caused by iron-derived free radicals.

Asbestos causes asbestosis and malignancies by mechanisms that are not fully understood. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury by iron-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one important mechanism implicated. We previously showed that iron-catalyzed ROS in part mediate asbestos-inducedAEC DNA damage and apoptosis. Mitochondria have a critical role in regulating apoptosis after exposure to agents causing DNA damage but their role in regulating asbestos-induced apoptosis is unknown. To determine whether asbestos causes AEC mitochondrial dysfunction, we exposed A549 cells to amosite asbestos and assessed mitochondrial membrane potential changes (delta(psi)m) using a fluorometric technique involving tetremethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) and mitotracker green. We show that amosite asbestos, but not an inert particulate, titanium dioxide, reduces delta(psi)m after a 4 h exposure period. Further, the delta(psi)m after 4 h was inversely proportional to the levels of apoptosis noted at 24 h as assessed by nuclear morphology as well as by DNA nucleosome formation. A role for iron-derived ROS was suggested by the finding that phytic acid, an iron chelator, blocked asbestos-induced reductions in A549 cell delta(psi)m and attenuated apoptosis. Finally, overexpression of Bcl-xl, an anti-apoptotic protein that localizes to the mitochondria, prevented asbestos-induced decreases in A549 cell delta(psi)m after 4 h and diminished apoptosis. We conclude that asbestos alters AEC mitochondrial function in part by generating iron-derived ROS, which in turn can result in apoptosis. This suggests that the mitochondrial death pathway is important in regulating pulmonary toxicity from asbestos.

Asbestos causes apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells: Role of iron-induced free radicals

Asbestos causes asbestosis and malignancies by mechanisms that are not fully understood. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury by iron-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one important mechanism. To determine whether asbestos causes apoptosis in AECs, we exposed WI-26 (human type I–like cells), A549 (human type II–like cells), and rat alveolar type II cells to amosite asbestos and assessed apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated deoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, nuclear morphology, annexin V staining, DNA nucleosome formation, and caspase 3 activation. In contrast to control medium and TiO2, amosite asbestos and H2O2 each caused AEC apoptosis. A role for iron-catalyzed ROS was suggested by the finding that asbestos-induced AEC apoptosis and caspase 3 activation were each attenuated by either an iron chelator (phytic acid and deferoxamine) or a ·OH scavenger (dimethyl-thiourea, salicylate, and sodium benzoate) but not by iron-loaded phytic acid. To determine whether asbestos causes apoptosis in vivo, rats received a single intratracheal instillation of amosite (5 mg) or normal saline solution, and apoptosis in epithelial cells in the bronchoalveolar duct regions was assessed by TUNEL staining. One week after exposure, amosite asbestos caused a 3-fold increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells in the bronchoalveolar duct regions as compared with control (control, 2.1% ± 0.35%; asbestos, 7.61% ± 0.15%; n = 3). However, by 4 weeks the number of apoptotic cells was similar to control. We conclude that asbestos-induced pulmonary toxicity may partly be caused by apoptosis in the lung epithelium that is mediated by iron-catalyzed ROS and caspase 3 activation. (J Lab Clin Med 2001;137:330-9)

Cigarette Smoke and Asbestos Activate Poly-ADP-Ribose Polymerase in Alveolar Epithelial Cells

BackgroundCigarette smoke augments asbestos-induced bronchogenic carcinoma in a synergistic manner by mechanisms that are not established. One important mechanism may involve alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury resulting from oxidant-induced DNA...

Cigarette smoke augments asbestos-induced alveolar epithelial cell injury: role of free radicals

Cigarette smoke augments asbestos-induced bronchogenic carcinoma by mechanisms that are not established. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury due to oxidant-induced DNA damage and depletion of glutathione (GSH) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) may be one important mechanism. We previously showed that amosite asbestos-induces hydroxyl radical production and DNA damage to cultured AEC and that phytic acid, an iron chelator, is protective. We hypothesized that whole cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) augment amosite asbestos-induced AEC injury by generating iron-induced free radicals that damage DNA and reduce cellular GSH and ATP levels. Asbestos or CSE each caused dose-dependent toxicity to AEC (WI-26 and rat alveolar type I-like cells) as assessed by 51chromium release. The combination of asbestos (5 μg/cm 2) and CSE (0.01–0.1%) caused synergistic injury whereas higher doses of each agent primarily had an additive toxic effect. Asbestos (5 μg/cm 2) augmented CSE-induced (0.01–1.0%) AEC DNA damage over a 4 h exposure period as assessed by an alkaline unwinding, ethidium bromide fluorometric technique. These effects were synergistic in A549 cells and additive in WI-26 cells. Asbestos (5 μg/cm 2) and CSE (0.5–1.0%) reduced A549 and WI-26 cell GSH levels as assessed spectrophotometrically and ATP levels as assessed by luciferin/luciferase chemiluminescence but a synergistic interaction was not detected. Phytic acid (500 μM) and catalase (100 μg/ml) each attenuated A549 cell DNA damage and depletion of ATP caused by asbestos and CSE. However, neither agent attenuated WI-26 cell DNA damage nor the reductions in GSH levels in WI-26 and A549 cells exposed to asbestos and CSE. We conclude that CSE enhance asbestos-induced DNA damage in cultured alveolar epithelial cells. These data provide additional support that asbestos and cigarette smoke are genotoxic to relevant target cells in the lung and that iron-induced free radicals may in part cause these effects.

Asbestos causes DNA strand breaks in cultured pulmonary epithelial cells: role of iron-catalyzed free radicals

Asbestos causes pulmonary fibrosis and various malignancies by mechanisms that remain uncertain. Reactive oxygen species in part cause asbestos toxicity. However, it is not known whether asbestos-induced free radical production causes alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) cytotoxicity by inducing DNA strand breaks (DNA-SB). We tested the hypothesis that asbestos-induced AEC injury in vitro is due to iron-catalyzed free radical generation, which in turn causes DNA-SB. We found that amosite asbestos damages cultured human pulmonary epithelial-like cells (WI-26 cells) as assessed by 51Cr release and that an iron chelator, phytic acid (500 microM), attenuates these effects. A role for iron causing these effects was supported by the observation that ferric chloride-treated phytic acid did not diminish WI-26 cell injury. Production of hydroxyl radical-like species (.OH) was assessed based upon the .OH-dependent formation of formaldehyde (HCHO) in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide. A variety of mineral dusts induced significant levels of .OH formation (nmol HCHO at 30 min: carbonyl iron, 85 +/- 21; amosite asbestos, 14 +/- 2; chrysotile asbestos, 7 +/- 1; titanium dioxide, 2.5 +/- 0.5). Phytic acid significantly diminished the asbestos-induced .OH production. DNA damage to AEC was assessed by the alkaline unwinding, ethidium bromide fluorometric technique. Hydrogen peroxide caused dose-dependent DNA-SB in WI-26 cells after a 30-min exposure period [50% effective dose (ED50): 5 microM] that was similar to other cell lines. Amosite asbestos induced dose-dependent DNA-SB in WI-26, A549, and primary isolated rat alveolar type II cells maintained in culture for 7-10 days (alveolar type I-like). Lower doses of amosite (0.5-5 micrograms/ml or 0.25-2.5 micrograms/cm2) caused significant WI-26 cell DNA-SB after prolonged exposure periods (> or = 2 days). Phytic acid ameliorated DNA damage in all three cultured AEC. There was a direct correlation between mineral dust-induced .OH production at 30 min and DNA-SB in WI-26 cells at 4 h (P < 0.0005). These data suggest that mineral dusts can be directly genotoxic to relevant target cells of asbestos, AEC. Furthermore, these results provide additional support for the premise that iron-catalyzed free radicals mediate asbestos-induced pulmonary toxicity.

Contrasting effects of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils on asbestos-induced pulmonary epithelial cell injury

Pulmonary toxicity from asbestos may be due in part to oxidant-mediated mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether alveolar macrophages (AM) contribute to asbestos-induced alveolar epithelial cell injury by oxidant-dependent mechanisms similar to that previously described for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). We assessed 51Cr release from cultured rat alveolar epithelial cells (RAEC) and transformed human pulmonary epithelial-like cell lines (rat L2 and human WI-26: HPEC). Amosite asbestos caused dose-dependent injury to both RAEC and L2 cells after an 18-h incubation period. Rat PMN increased asbestos-induced injury to RAEC (11 vs. 20% 51Cr release). In contrast, rat AM diminished asbestos-induced injury to RAEC and L2 cells by 60-80%. Human monocytes cultured for 72 h also attenuated asbestos-induced HPEC damage. Asbestos stimulated more H2O2 release from PMN than from AM isolated from the same rats (5.3 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.1 nmol x 10(6) cells-1 x 2h-1). The protective effect of rat AM, as opposed to PMN, was not due to differences in asbestos-induced toxicity to each cell type, since > 90% of AM and PMN were nonviable after 18 h. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated comparable uptake of asbestos by AM and PMN after a 2-h incubation period. However, after an 18-h exposure period, the PMN were completely lysed, whereas over 90% of the AM contained fibers, despite morphologic evidence of cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that AM, unlike PMN, can reduce alveolar epithelial cell injury in this model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)