Effect of particle size on quartz-induced hemolysis and on lung inflammation and fibrosis. Exp Lung Res 1989 Dec;15(6):801-12
Date
12/01/1989Pubmed ID
2558879DOI
10.3109/01902148909069627Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0024792532 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 27 CitationsAbstract
To assess the role of crystal size in biologic responses, we quantitated red blood cell lysis and lung inflammation and fibrosis in the mouse using 4 alpha-quartz preparations with average diameters of 1, 5, 7.8, and 11.2 microns. When compared on the basis of identical crystal surface areas, the 1-micron fraction was more hemolytic than the other 3 fractions. The three larger fractions had equivalent membranolytic activities. After 6 weeks of postintratracheal instillation of the crystals into mice, the 1-micron-diameter crystal fraction increased wet lung weights by 1.25 x that of saline controls, while a 1.75 x increase was found for the three larger crystal fractions. A similar response was found when evaluating fibrosis development by determining lung hydroxyproline levels. Measurement of the percentage of the crystal dose remaining in the lungs revealed that the biologic differences observed were not due to a difference in the clearance of the smaller crystal fraction. Thus, larger crystals of alpha-quartz produce a greater degree of inflammation and fibrosis when instilled into the lung than those of 1 micron diameter, even though the smaller crystals are more membranolytic in vitro and appear to be cleared from the lung at the same rate as the larger crystals.
Author List
Wiessner JH, Mandel NS, Sohnle PG, Mandel GSAuthors
Neil S. Mandel PhD Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinPeter G. Sohnle MD, MS Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsHemolysis
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Particle Size
Pneumonia
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide
X-Ray Diffraction
