Figure 8.

Silica-specific genes and protein altered in BEAS-2B cells. Steady-state mRNA levels were measured by QRT-PCR in BEAS-2B cells exposed to asbestos and silica at two doses (75 and 150 × 10⁶ µm²/cm²) for 24 h. Genes significantly altered by silica only were (A) FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor 2), (B) PTX3 (Pentraxin 3), (C) CREB5 (cAMP responsive element binding protein 5) and (D) SFRP1 (Secreted frizzled-related protein 1). Gene expression levels were normalized to the housekeeping gene RPL13A (Ribosomal protein L13A). Values represent the mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 versus unexposed controls, n = 3. (E) Secreted levels of bFGF (FGF2) protein in conditioned medium of BEAS-2B cells exposed 24 h (pg/ml). Graphs are representative of two to three repeat experiments.