Evaluation of the genotoxic and transformation potential induced by asbestos compared to cleavage fragments. in Scientific reports / Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 29;15(1):3613. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-86325-z.

2025

Tipo pubblicazione

Journal Article;

Autori/Collaboratori (5)Vedi tutti...

Benvenuti M
Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
Alberti S
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, 16146, Genoa, Italy.
Militello GM
Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy.

et alii...

Abstract

The World Health Organization has confirmed that asbestos fibres are carcinogenic, claiming that asbestos-related diseases should be eradicated worldwide. Actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and tremolite are regulated asbestiform mineral phases. However, in nature, asbestos minerals occur either in a fibrous and asbestiform (original morphology characterized by high length-to-width ratio and provided of high tensile strength and flexibility) or fibrous but not asbestiform appearance. This study used human epithelial cancer cells (A549) and a mouse fibroblast cell line (Balb/c 3T3) to compare the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of a sample of amphibole asbestos with samples of fibrous not asbestiform named cleavage fragments (CV) obtained by grinding non-asbestiform amphiboles. The results showed that exposure of alveolar lung cells to asbestos and elongated mineral particles, in the habit of cleavage fragments (CF) derived from the grinding of non-asbestiform amphiboles and serpentines, causes cytotoxic effects, oxidative stress and genotoxic damage. Moreover, CF obtained from an actinolite schist induces a transformation effect in the Balb/c 3T3 model. Together, these findings highlight the importance of considering CF as a potential threat to human health since it can cause genotoxic damage by triggering cellular transformation processes that overlap with the mechanisms involved in the carcinogenesis processes of asbestos.

PMID : 39875416

DOI : 10.1038/s41598-025-86325-z

Keywords

Asbestos/toxicity; BALB 3T3 Cells; A549 Cells; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/chemically induced/genetics; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Asbestos, Amphibole/toxicity; DNA Damage; Humans; Mice; Animals;