Proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage in individuals from Metsovo, nonoccupationally exposed to asbestos

Our plain-English summary of Proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage in individuals from Metsovo, nonoccupationally exposed to asbestos, by D.T. Archimandriti, Y.A. Dalavanga, R. Cianti, et al (Journal of Proteome Research, 2009).

The study

• Authors: D.T. Archimandriti, Y.A. Dalavanga, R. Cianti, L. Bianchi, C. Manda-Stachouli, A. Armini, A.I. Koukkou, P. Rottoli, S.H. Constantopoulos, L. Bini
• Journal: Journal of Proteome Research
• Published: 2009;8(2):860-9
• Cited by: 14 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Inhabitants of Metsovo, NW Greece, have been exposed to an asbestos whitewash, resulting in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and pleural calcifications (PCs). Interestingly, those with PCs (PC(+)) are less prone to MPM. They also have lymphocytic alveolitis, and differences in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) proteins, compared with those without pleural calcifications (PC(-)). This may mean a different response to the fiber leading to different susceptibility to neoplasia. To further evaluate this, a proteomic analysis of BAL proteins was performed. Proteomic analysis (2D-electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry) of BAL in Metsovites nonoccupationally exposed to asbestos revealed increased albumin fragments, alpha1-antitrypsin, S100-A9 and HSP27, suggesting ongoing inflammation. In those without pleural calcifications, increased expression of acid ceramidase, glutathione-S-transferase and presence of calcyphosin, all involved in cell cycle regulation and death as well as in the detoxification of mutagenic and toxic agents, lend further support to our thesis of possible "protection against neoplasia" in Metsovites with pleural calcifications.

In plain English

This study analysed proteins in fluid washed from the lungs (bronchoalveolar lavage) of people from Metsovo, Greece, exposed at home to asbestos through a tremolite-containing whitewash called "luto". The authors set out to test their hypothesis that pleural calcifications may signal protection against cancer. Lavage fluid from 8 Metsovites (4 with and 4 without pleural calcifications on chest X-ray) and from 3 healthy controls was examined using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Asbestos bodies were seen in the fluid of all Metsovites but not the controls. Both Metsovite groups had higher amounts of albumin, S100-A9 and alpha-1-antitrypsin than controls. The authors described these as proteins involved in inflammation. The group without calcifications had more acid ceramidase, glutathione-S-transferase P, and albumin and serotransferrin fragments than the other two groups, and calcyphosin was detected only in that group. The authors concluded that the proteins raised in people without calcifications are related to mechanisms that may enhance cancer development.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Small laboratory comparison of lung lavage fluid proteins (proteomic analysis by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry). It tested the authors' hypothesis that pleural calcifications and lymphocytic alveolitis may indicate protection against cancer.
• Who was studied: 8 nonsmoking inhabitants of Metsovo, NW Greece, and 3 healthy nonsmoking controls, none with known lung disease or acute infection. The Metsovites were split into 4 with pleural calcifications on chest X-ray (1 male, 3 female, mean age 54) and 4 without (3 male, 1 female, mean age 52).
• Exposure: Nonoccupational asbestos exposure through use of "luto", a tremolite-containing whitewash, for decades. The authors report no significant difference in years of luto use between the two Metsovite groups.
• Main results:
  • Asbestos bodies were found in the lavage fluid of all Metsovites (with and without pleural calcifications) but not in the controls.
  • The percentage of lymphocytes was higher in the group with pleural calcifications (data not shown).
  • 60 quantitative and 5 qualitative significant protein variations were found between the three groups. Of these, 22 quantitative and 1 qualitative variation were identified by mass spectrometry.
  • Compared with controls, both Metsovite groups had higher amounts of albumin and albumin fragments, alpha-1-antitrypsin and S100-A9. The authors described these as proteins involved in inflammation.
  • Nine protein spots showed a pattern similar in the group without calcifications and the controls, but different in the group with pleural calcifications.
  • The group without pleural calcifications had increased albumin fragments, an acid ceramidase fragment, a serotransferrin fragment, glutathione S-transferase P and calcyphosin compared with both the group with calcifications and the controls.
  • Calcyphosin was detected only in the group without pleural calcifications.
  • People without pleural calcifications showed more albumin breakdown (proteolysis) than those with calcifications.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the proteins overexpressed in Metsovites without pleural calcifications are related to regulatory mechanisms which may enhance cancer development. In their view, this supports the hypothesis of two different types of reaction to the asbestos fiber.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors note that calcyphosin being found only in the group without calcifications reflects the detection limit of the silver-staining method used.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma, Pleural plaques and thickening.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), Whitewash, Pleural Mesothelioma, Pleural Calcification, Inflammation, Glutathione (GSH).

Related studies

• Two dimensional protein patterns of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from non-smokers, smokers, and subjects exposed to asbestos — M. Lindahl, T. Ekström, et al. (1996)
• Inorganic particles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from nonoccupationally exposed subjects — M. Falchi, L. Biondo, et al. (1996)
• Additional proteins in BAL fluid of Metsovites environmentally exposed to asbestos: more evidence of "protection" against neoplasia? — V. Galani, S. Constantopoulos, et al. (2002)
• Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cellular profile in workers exposed to chrysotile asbestos — F.P. Kokkinis, D. Bouros, et al. (2011)
• Proteome screening of pleural effusions identifies galectin 1 as a diagnostic biomarker and highlights several prognostic biomarkers for malignant mesothelioma — F. Mundt, H.J. Johansson, et al. (2014)
• Biochemical components of bronchoalveolar lavage in early experimental asbestosis of the sheep: phospholipase A2 activity, prostaglandin E2 and proteins — P. Sirois, G. Drapeau, et al. (1983)

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