Excess iron promotes emergence of foamy macrophages that overexpress ferritin in the lungs of silicosis patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

Inhalation of high concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can lead to silicosis. RCS contains varying levels of iron, which can cause oxidative stress and stimulate ferritin production. This study evaluated iron-related and inflammatory markers in control and silicosis patients.

Methods

A cohort of stone benchtop industry workers (n = 18) were radiologically classified by disease severity into simple or complicated silicosis. Peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were collected to measure iron, ferritin, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and serum silicon levels. Ferritin subunit expression in BAL and transbronchial biopsies was analysed by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Lipid accumulation in BAL macrophages was

SUBMITTER: Aloe CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9303595 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature