Increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase immunoreactivity associated with proliferative and morphologic lung alterations after chrysotile asbestos inhalation in mice.

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) has been associated with the advent of asbestos-associated apoptosis and proliferation in mesothelial and alveolar epithelial cells and may be linked to the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The objective of studies here was to characterize the development of inflammation, cellular proliferation, and fibrosis in asbestos-exposed C57Bl/6 mice in relationship to patterns of ERK phosphorylation. Inflammation occurred after 10 and 20 days of asbestos exposure as evidenced by increases in total protein and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Increases in cell proliferation were observed at 30 days in bronchiolar epithelia and at 4, 14, and 30 days in the alveolar compartment of the lung. Trichrome-positive focal lesions of pulmonary fibrosis developed at 30 days in the absence of elevations in lung hydroxyproline or procollagen mRNA levels. Striking increases in ERK phosphorylation were observed within pulmonary epithelial cells at sites of developing fibrotic lesions after 14 and 30 days of inhalation. In addition to characterizing a murine inhalation model of asbestosis, we provide the first evidence showing activation of ERK signaling within lung epithelium in vivo, following inhalation of asbestos fibers.