The mesothelial cell

Our plain-English summary of The mesothelial cell, by S.E. Mutsaers (The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 2004).

The study

• Author: S.E. Mutsaers
• Journal: The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
• Published: 2004;36(1):9-16
• Type of article: Review
• Cited by: 269 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Mesothelial cells form a monolayer of specialised pavement-like cells that line the body's serous cavities and internal organs. The primary function of this layer, termed the mesothelium, is to provide a slippery, non-adhesive and protective surface. However, mesothelial cells play other pivotal roles involving transport of fluid and cells across the serosal cavities, antigen presentation, inflammation and tissue repair, coagulation and fibrinolysis and tumour cell adhesion. Injury to the mesothelium triggers events leading to the migration of mesothelial cells from the edge of the lesion towards the wound centre and desquamation of cells into the serosal fluid which attach and incorporate into the regenerating mesothelium. If healing is impaired, fibrous serosal adhesions form between organs and the body wall which impede vital intrathoracic and abdominal movement. Neoplastic transformation of mesothelial cells gives rise to malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive tumour predominantly of the pleura. Although closely associated with exposure to asbestos, recent studies have implicated other factors including simian virus 40 (SV40) in its pathogenesis.

In plain English

This was a short review describing the biology of mesothelial cells, the single layer of cells lining the chest, heart and abdominal cavities and their organs. It reported no new study of patients or workers. The author described the lining as slowly renewing, with 0.16–0.5% of cells dividing at any one time, rising sharply after injury. The review covered the cells' roles as a protective, non-sticking surface and in fluid transport, immunity, inflammation, repair and clot breakdown. It described malignant mesothelioma as an aggressive tumour mainly of the pleura, with a latency of up to 40 years and most patients dying within 18 months of diagnosis. It called asbestos the main cause, without naming fiber types, and said how asbestos transforms these cells was unclear. On simian virus 40 (SV40), the author noted some laboratories found no association, but judged it likely that SV40 acts with asbestos as a co-carcinogen. The author concluded these cells are most likely the origin of malignant mesothelioma.

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: Narrative review (a short 'Cells in focus' overview) of published research on mesothelial cells; no original study data
• Who was studied: No study population. The article reviews published laboratory, animal and clinical research on mesothelial cells, which line the pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities and the organs within them
• Exposure: Asbestos is discussed only in background terms as the main cause of malignant mesothelioma; no fiber types, products, jobs or doses are named. The review notes the tumour can also occur without known asbestos exposure, and discusses simian virus 40 (SV40) as a possible additional factor
• Main results:
  • The review stated that the mesothelium is a slowly renewing tissue, with 0.16–0.5% of cells dividing at any one time
  • The review stated that within 48 hours of injury, 30–80% of mesothelial cells at the wound edge and on the facing surface begin making DNA
  • The review described the main role of the mesothelium as a protective, non-adhesive surface, with additional roles in transport, antigen presentation, inflammation, repair, coagulation and fibrinolysis, and tumour cell adhesion
  • The review described malignant mesothelioma as an aggressive tumour mainly of the pleura, with a latency period of up to 40 years
  • The review stated that most patients with malignant mesothelioma die within 18 months of diagnosis
  • The review stated that the mechanisms by which asbestos transforms mesothelial cells are unclear
  • On SV40, the review noted that some laboratories have not found an association with mesothelioma, but the author judged it likely that SV40 acts with asbestos as a co-carcinogen
  • The review stated that, to date, studies indicate successful mesothelioma treatment will require a combination of approaches
• The authors' conclusion: The author concluded that impaired mesothelial regeneration is a likely cause of post-operative adhesions and that mesothelial cells are most likely the cells from which malignant mesothelioma arises

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Mesothelial Cells, Serous Cavities, Mesothelium, Inflammation, Intrathoracic, Malignant Mesothelioma, Pleura, SV40.

Related studies

• Crocidolite asbestos and SV40 are cocarcinogens in human mesothelial cells and in causing mesothelioma in hamsters — B. Kroczynska, R. Cutrone, et al. (2006)
• Exosomes from asbestos-exposed cells modulate gene expression in mesothelial cells — P. Munson, Y.W. Lam, et al. (2018)
• DNA damage in bronchial epithelial and mesothelial cells with and without associated crocidolite asbestos fibers — J. Nygren, S. Suhonen, et al. (2004)
• Combined use of AFM and soft X-ray microscopy to reveal fibres' internalization in mesothelial cells — A. Gianoncelli, G. Kourousias, et al. (2017)
• Asbestos and the mesothelial cell: a molecular trail to mitogenic stimuli and suppressor gene suspects — B.I. Gerwin (1994)
• Spontaneously immortalized mouse mesothelial cells display characteristics of malignant transformation — A.L. Sherwood, S.E. Mutsaers, et al. (2008)

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