Angiogenesis correlates with macrophage and mast cell infiltration in lung tissue of animals exposed to fluoro-edenite fibers

Experimental Cell Research [E pub ahead of print] [Link]

Musumeci G, Loreto C, Giunta S, Rapisarda V, Szychlinska MA, Imbesi R, Castorina A, Annese T, Castorina S, Castrogiovanni P, Ribatti D.

Abstract

Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in progression of pleural malignant mesothelioma. A significantly increased incidence of pleural mesothelioma has been attributed to exposure to fluoro-edenite, a fibrous amphibole extracted from a local stone quarry. In this study, we have investigated the expression of CD68-positive macrophages, tryptase-positive mast cells and CD31 positive areas, as expression of vascular density, in lung tissue of sheeps exposed to fluoro-edenite fibers vs controls, by immunohistochemical, morphometric and Western blot analysis. The result have evidenced a significant increase in the expression of CD68-positive macrophages, tryptase-positive mast cells as well as a significant increase in microvascular density evaluated as CD31 positive areas in lung tissue of of sheeps exposed to fluoro-edenite fibers vs controls. These data confirmed the important role played by tumor microenviroment components, including macrophages and mast cells, in favour of angiognesis in pleural mesothelioma induced by fluoro-edenite exposure.