Asbestos-Induced Pleural Disease

Al Jarad N, Poulakis N, Pearson MC, et al. 1991. Assessment of asbestos-induced pleural disease by computer tomography - correlation with chest radiograph and lung function. Resp Med 85 203-208. 

Nishimura SL, Broaddus VC. 1998. Asbestos-induced pleural disease. Clin Chest Med 19 311-329. 

Asbestos particles therefore initiate an inflammatory response mediated via the pleural mesothelial cell release of chemokines in the pleural space (55-57). Chemokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of asbestos-induced pleural effusions. Typically, patients with asbestos-induced pleural effusions have recurring episodes of fluid formation which may resolve spontaneously. These repeated episodes are presumed to be due to new asbestos fibers activating pleural mesothelial cells. Whether chemokines such as IL-8 that are present in such high quantities in asbestos-induced pleural disease play any role in mesothelial cell transformation into mesothelioma remains unclear. The association of asbestosis and mesothelioma has been well described, but the origin and pathobiology of the disease remain clouded. 

Tanaka S, Choe N, Iwagaki A, Hemenway DR, Kagan E. Asbestos exposure induces MCP-1 secretion by pleural mesothehal cehs. Exp Lung Res 2000 26 241-255. Nishimura SL, Broaddus VC. Asbestos-induced pleural disease. Chn Chest Med 1998 19 311-329. 

Mintzer RA, Gore RM, Vogelzang RL, Holz S (1981) Rounded atelectasis and its association with asbestos-induced pleural disease. Radiology 139 567-570 Mitchev K, Dumortier P, De Vuyst P (2002) Black spots and hyaline pleural plaques on the parietal pleura of 150 urban necropsy cases. Am J Surg Pathol 26 1198-1206 Monchaux G, Bignon J, Hirsch A, Sebastien P (1982) Translocation of mineral fibers through the respiratory system after injection into the pleural cavity of rats. Ann Occup Hyg 26 309-318... 

Rosenstock L, Hudson LD (1986) Nonmalignant asbestos-induced pleural disease. Semin Respir Med 7 197-202 Rudd RM (1996) New developments in asbestos-related pleural disease. Thorax 51 210-216... 

Schwartz DA (1991) New developments in asbestos-induced pleural disease. Chest 99 191-198 Schwartz DA, Galvin JR, Dayton CS, Standford W, Merchant JA, Hunninghake GW (1990) Determinants of restrictive lung in asbestos-induced pleural fibrosis. J Appl Physiol 68 1932-1937... 

Copley S (2000) Computed tomographic-functional relationships in asbestos-induced pleural and parenchymal disease. University of London... 

What are the molecular events involved in the development of asbestos-induced respiratory and pleural effects and how are they influenced by fiber dimensions and mineral type Identification of the molecular and cellular events of asbestos-induced disease has been the subject of extensive research within the past two decades (see Mechanisms of Asbestos Toxicity Overview section). However, much remains unknown, and the precise steps in pathogenic pathways are not frilly established. 

The pleura, principally the parietal pleura, is a main target for asbestos fibers and is involved far more often than the lung parenchyma, despite the fact that the lung is the first organ reached by inhaled fibers. The precise mechanisms of translocation of fibers toward the pleura and the physiopathology of pleural fiber-induced diseases are still not well understood. 

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