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Effects of Libby amphibole exposure on two models of arthritis in the Lewis rat
Citation:
SALAZAR, K. D., C. B. COPELAND, AND R. W. LUEBKE. Effects of Libby amphibole exposure on two models of arthritis in the Lewis rat. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH - PART A: CURRENT ISSUES. Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, 75(6):351-65, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
Epidemiological data suggest that occupational exposure to the amphibole-containing venniculite in Libby, MT was associated with increased risk for developing autoimmune diseases and had an odds ratio of 3.23 for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The collagen induced arthritis (CIA) and the peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS) models of RA were employed to determine if exposure to Libby amphibole (LA) induced a more rapid onset, increased expression or prolonged course of RA.
Description:
Epidemiological data suggest that occupational exposure to the amphibole-containing venniculite in Libby, MT was associated with increased risk for developing autoimmune diseases and had an odds ratio of 3.23 for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The collagen induced arthritis (CIA) and the peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS) models of RA were employed to determine if exposure to Libby amphibole (LA) induced a more rapid onset, increased expression or prolonged course of RA. Female Lewis rats were intratracheally instilled with total doses of 0.15, 0.5, 1.5, 5.0 mg LA or 0.5 or 1.5 mg amosite asbestos and arthritis was induced with either the PG-PS or CIA model. Neither LA nor amosite exposure affected the disease course in the CIA model, rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies. LA exposure reduced swelling in the PG-PS model and decreased anti-PG-PS and total IgM antibody titers. Both amosite and LA exposure increased the number of rats with circulating anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA). The majority of ANA-positive animals presented a speckled staining pattern. ANA enhancement was not dose responsive. These results failed to show a positive correlation between LA exposure and RA disease in two animal models. Upregulated ANA suggest an altered immunological profile consistent with other systemic autoimmune diseases
