SOLUBLE ICAM-1, MCP-1, AND MIP-2 PROTEIN SECRETION BY RAT PLEURAL MESOTHELIAL CELLS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO AMOSITE ASBESTOS

Pleural inflammation is a sequela of exposure to toxic mineral fibers such as amosite asbestos. This inflammatory response involves the influx of leukocytes from the vasculature into the pleural space. Adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM)-1 and chemokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP)-1 and macrophage inhibitory protein-2 (MIP)-2 are known to be important in pulmonary inflammation following inhalation of particulate matter. However, little is known about their role in pleural inflammation secondary to amosite asbestos exposure. Because the pleural mesothelial cell is believed to be a key target cell of asbestos exposure, the purpose of this study was to determine if ICAM-1, MCP-1, and MIP-2 proteins were secreted by these mesothelial cells following in vitro and in vivo exposure to amosite asbestos. Increased levels of ICAM-1 and MCP-1 protein were measured following 24 or 48 hours exposure of cultured rat pleural mesothelial cells to amosite fibers (1.5 t...