Carcinogenesis

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Erionite and asbestos differently cause transformation of human mesothelial cells

  1. P. Bertino1,
  2. A. Marconi2,
  3. L. Palumbo2,
  4. B. M. Bruni2,
  5. D. Barbone1,
  6. S. Germano1,
  7. A.U. Dogan3,4,
  8. G. F. Tassi5,
  9. C. Porta6,
  10. L. Mutti7,†,
  11. G. Gaudino1,†,‡,*

Article first published online: 12 MAR 2007

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22687

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 121, Issue 1, pages 12–20, 1 July 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bertino, P., Marconi, A., Palumbo, L., Bruni, B. M., Barbone, D., Germano, S., Dogan, A., Tassi, G. F., Porta, C., Mutti, L. and Gaudino, G. (2007), Erionite and asbestos differently cause transformation of human mesothelial cells. International Journal of Cancer, 121: 12–20. doi: 10.1002/ijc.22687

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of DISCAFF and DFB Center, University of Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

  2. 2

    Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Department of Technology and Health, ISS, Roma, Italy

  3. 3

    Department of Geological Engineering, Ankara University, Turkey

  4. 4

    Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

  5. 5

    Chest Medicine Unit, Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy

  6. 6

    Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Matteo University Hospital, Pavia, Italy

  7. 7

    Local Health Unit, 11 Piemonte, Italy

  1. †

    The last two authors equally contributed to this work.

  2. ‡

    Fax: +39-0321-375821

*DISCAFF Department, University of Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, via Bovio, 6, Novara 28100, Italy

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 APR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 12 MAR 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 2 FEB 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 8 JUN 2006

Funded by

  • AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro)
  • MARF (Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation)
  • Buzzi Unicem Foundation for mesothelioma research

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Keywords:

  • asbestos;
  • zeolite;
  • erionite;
  • mesothelioma;
  • cell trans-formation

Abstract

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive tumor associated with environmental or occupational exposure to asbestos fibers. Erionite is a fibrous zeolite, morphologically similar to asbestos and it is assumed to be even more carcinogenic. Onset and progression of MM has been suggested as the result of the cooperation between asbestos and other cofactors, such as SV40 virus infection. Nevertheless, several cases of MM were associated with environmental exposure to erionite in Turkey, where SV40 was never isolated in MM specimens. We show here that erionite is poorly cytotoxic, induces proliferating signals and high growth rate in human mesothelial cells (HMC). Long term exposure to erionite, but not to asbestos fibers, transforms HMC in vitro, regardless of the presence of SV40 sequences, leading to foci formation in cultured monolayers. Cells derived from foci display constitutive activation of Akt, NF-κB and Erk1/2, show prolonged survival and a deregulated cell cycle, involving cyclin D1 and E overexpression. Our results reveal that erionite is able per se to turn HMC into transformed highly proliferating cells and disclose the carcinogenic properties of erionite, prompting for a careful evaluation of environmental exposure to these fibers. The genetic predisposition to the effect of erionite is a separate subject for investigation. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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