The phagocytosis and toxicity of amorphous silica.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inhalation of crystalline silica is known to cause an inflammatory reaction and chronic exposure leads to lung fibrosis and can progress into the disease, silicosis. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. We compared the uptake and toxicity of amorphous silica to crystalline silica.

Methodology/principal findings

Amorphous silica particles are phagocytosed by macrophage cells and a single internalized particle is capable of killing a cell. Fluorescent dextran is released from endo-ly

SUBMITTER: Costantini LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3032735 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature