Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-Beta) in Silicosis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Begin R ; Dufresne A ; Goswami S ; Jagirdar J ; Lee TC ; Rom, William N.
• Description:
  The role of transforming growth factor beta (TGFb) in human silicosis was examined. The study material consisted of lung tissue samples obtained at autopsy from 11 men who had been exposed to crystalline silica (14808607) during their working lifetimes and from two controls. All lung tissue samples from the silica exposed workers had histological evidence of silicosis. Seven had simple silicosis, three had pulmonary massive fibrosis (PMF), and one had evidence of acute or accelerated silicosis. Silicotic nodules were found in tissue samples from eight workers. Silica particle concentrations in lungs from the exposed subjects varied from 0.37x10(6) to 9.204x10(6) particles per milligram (mg) dry lung tissue. The highest concentrations were found in lungs from those with PMF. Silica concentrations in control lungs were below 0.3x10(6) particle/mg. In lung tissue from controls, small amounts of TGFb staining were found in the bronchial epithelium, macrophages, and bronchial and vascular smooth muscle. In samples from the silicotics, minimal to moderate staining for TGFb was seen in early silicotic peribronchiolar lesions. Central hyalinized areas in the nodular lesions contained the most intense TGFb staining. Fibroblasts in the periphery of the nodules also stained for TGFb. In lung tissue from the patient with acute silicosis, staining of hyperplastic alveolar epithelium was observed. Intense staining of macrophages was seen in three patients. Large areas of scar tissue in the PMF lesions also stained for TGFb. The authors conclude that TGFb may play a major role in the etiology of silicosis, particularly in the formation of silicotic lesions and development of PMF. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Immune System Lung Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Histopathology Humans Immunochemistry Lung-fibrosis Lung-tissue NIOSH-Cooperative-Agreement NIOSH-Publication Postmortem-examination Pulmonary-system-disorders Silica-dusts
• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  154
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00238706
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1996 Oct; 154(4):1076-1081
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1997
• NORA Priority Area:
  Pulmonary System Disorders
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• End Date:
  19950927
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:11c45e13c1241d77b38f5e4122f63a8ec6d1d829b2ad7255a522dd13dc26287784b3542fc0a00bcb25760fccd407d7020addbce8f92de7d0d11a263548f2011a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197937/cdc_197937_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 878.87 KB ]