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Identification of asbestos species in lung tissue by analysis of elemental distribution at living cell size resolution
-A way to the high-sensitive diagnosis of asbestos lung-
Nov. 11, 2008
Gunma University and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) have developed an analytical method using in-air micro-PIXE(Particle induced X-ray emission) on the basis of two dimensional distribution measurement of trace elements, e.g. Fe and Mg, with a spatial resolution of 1 µm in a few mg lung tissue picked up by a branchoscope without surgical operation. The method enables us to identify normal lung and asbestos lung (a lung which inhaled asbestos) by the clear difference in quantity and distribution of above metals. It is expected to be accurate diagnosis of asbestos lung.
Asbestos is one of the source materials to increase the risk of lung cancer or pulmonary fibrosis. It is so-called �Hidden time bomb� because of its long incubatory periods like a few tens years. Analytical method of asbestos to identify species and quantity, its distribution in lung tissue, and its up-take process is required for diagnosis and clinical treatment, but lung tissue sample of about 5 g obtained by surgical operation should be used for the conventional analysis.
The research group with Prof. K. Dobashi (Gunma Univ.) and T. Satoh (JAEA) applied in-air micro-PIXE analysis technique developed at JAEA to analysis and spatial profiling of trace elements in lung tissue which up-took asbestos. We succeeded in spatial profiling of the position and the shape of asbestos resin of a few 1 µm in length in lung tissue, on the basis of the measuring/analyzing of main elements of asbestos i.e. Si, Fe and Mg. Species of asbestos can be also specified based on the ratio of element contents in asbestos. These results should provide the new diagnosis method for diseases attributed to up-take of asbestos.
The research with combination use of in-air micro-PIXE and immunostaining for the samples prepared from the same lung tissue is under progress. The relationship between distribution of Si (major element of asbestos) and that of Fas protein which is considered to contribute to pulmonary fibrosis is partially clarified, which should show a way of clinical treatment.
This research has been conducted under a collaborative work between Gunma University and JAEA, as the part of the 21st century COE program �Biomedical research using accelerator technology�. The contents would be presented at the 4th COE international symposium held at Gunma University in November 2008.
•Identification of asbestos species in lung by elemental distribution at living cell size resolution -A way to the high-sensitive diagnosis of asbestos lung-
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