New UMD Study Shows How Mesothelioma Can Spread

Researchers at the University of Maryland are getting a better idea of why mesothelioma takes decades to develop in the body. In a 2023 paper published in the journal Environmental Research, a team of researchers at the University of Maryland found that understanding mesothelioma involves the way immune cells “sense” and interact with particles around them. The study found the geometry of contaminant particles is more important than mineral composition. This means asbestos causes an immune response once the immune system is exposed to the right shape and size of the particle. Hijacking the Immune System Researchers believe long and thin asbestos fibers are particularly dangerous because they cause more immune cells to shift focus to asbestos exposure sites within tissue, instead of where they would normally be needed, such as precancerous lesions. This could cause the immune system to ignore other potentially serious conditions.  Researchers call this a “hijacking” of the immune system. They say the hijacking of the immune cell migration system may lead to an infected organ being neglected because all the immune cells are assigned to a single site. This could result in other tissues missing out on much needed healing. Essentially, the immune system is overwhelmed, and the body’s own defenses are diverted from where they’re most required. “The physical characteristics of a mineral particle can change the behavior of immune cells in the long...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Clinical Trials/Research/Emerging Treatments Mesothelioma Source Type: news