OBJECTIVES: The toxicity of microglass fibers (MG), one of the man-made mineral fibers, has not been sufficiently evaluated. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of MGin vitro. METHODS: Alveolar macrophages were obtained from the bronchoalveolar lavage of male F344/N rats. The macrophages were exposed to MG at concentrations of 0, 40, 80, 160 and 320 μg/ml. The effects of MG on the macrophages were examined by cell magnetometry, LDH assay and morphological observation. RESULTS: In the cell magnetometry experiment, a significant delay of relaxation (the reduction of remanent magnetic field strength) was observed in the cells treated with 160 and 320 μg/ml of MG in a dose-dependent manner. A significant increase in LDH release was also observed in the cells with 160 and 320 μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner. Changes in the cytoskeleton were observed after exposure to MG by immunofluorescent microscopy using an α-tubulin antibody. CONCLUSIONS: The cytotoxicity of MG on alveolar macrophages was demonstrated with cell magnetometry. The mechanism of the toxic effects of MG was related to cytoskeleton damage.
OBJECTIVES: The toxicity of microglass fibers (MG), one of the man-made mineral fibers, has not been sufficiently evaluated. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of MGin vitro. METHODS: Alveolar macrophages were obtained from the bronchoalveolar lavage of male F344/N rats. The macrophages were exposed to MG at concentrations of 0, 40, 80, 160 and 320 μg/ml. The effects of MG on the macrophages were examined by cell magnetometry, LDH assay and morphological observation. RESULTS: In the cell magnetometry experiment, a significant delay of relaxation (the reduction of remanent magnetic field strength) was observed in the cells treated with 160 and 320 μg/ml of MG in a dose-dependent manner. A significant increase in LDH release was also observed in the cells with 160 and 320 μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner. Changes in the cytoskeleton were observed after exposure to MG by immunofluorescent microscopy using an α-tubulin antibody. CONCLUSIONS: The cytotoxicity of MG on alveolar macrophages was demonstrated with cell magnetometry. The mechanism of the toxic effects of MG was related to cytoskeleton damage.
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Keywords:
alveolar macrophage; magnetometry; man-made mineral fibers; microglass fibers