US EPA

2903700 

Journal Article 

Review 

Cell membranes in cytotoxicity 

Allison, AC; Ferluga, J 

1977 

Yes 

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
ISSN: 0065-2598 

84 

231-246 

English 

197829 

10.1007/978-1-4684-3279-4_11 

Silica particles are cytotoxic for macrophages because they damage the membranes around secondary lysosomes in which the particles are engulfed. Hydroxyl groups of silicic acid on the surface of the particles form hydrogen bonds with phosphate ester groups of phospholipids and disrupt a variety of natural and artificial membranes. Asbestos fibers induce secretion of hydrolytic enzymes from cultured macrophages. Magnesium hydroxide groups of chrysotile asbestos interact ionically with ionized sialic acid residues of membrane glycoproteins, increase passive cation flux and produce osmotic lysis. The terminal components of complement (C5b-C9) when inserted into the bilayer structure also increase passive cation flux and produce osmotic lysis. The small complement cleavage product C3a is lytic for several cell types, especially malignant cells. The mechanism by which specifically sensitized thymus-derived (T)-lymphocytes kill tumour cells is discussed. Plasma membranes from effector lymphocytes possess considerable cytolytic potential, which is dependent on the activity of a membrane-associated proteinase. 

Asbestos; 1332-21-4; Silicon Dioxide; 7631-86-9; Complement System Proteins; 9007-36-7; Index Medicus; Neoplasms, Experimental -- immunology; Animals; T-Lymphocytes -- ultrastructure; Hemolysis -- drug effects; Neoplasms, Experimental -- pathology; Silicon Dioxide -- pharmacology; Asbestos -- pharmacology; T-Lymphocytes -- physiology; Cell Membrane -- physiology; Cell Survival -- drug effects; Cell Membrane -- drug effects