What is the relationship between hemolytic potential and fibrogenicity of mineral dusts?

The hemolytic reaction to a dust is often used as a potential indicator of fibrogenicity of silicon dioxide polymorphs. However, occasionally the hemolytic response may not correlate with the observed fibrotic response in vivo. For example, amorphous silicas are very hemolytic but have little or no fibrogenic activity. In our study, heat treatment was used to alter alpha-cristobalite, a known fibrogenic dust, to a more hydrophobic surface. Comparisons were made between heated and unheated alpha-cristobalite for hemolytic activity in vitro and for lung response in vivo. Heat treatment resulted in decreased hemolytic response, but no change in the fibrotic response occurred in vivo. In addition, the heat treatment resulted in increased initial dust accumulation, reduced short-term clearance, and enhanced long-term clearance in vivo. Increased inflammatory cell recruitment was also observed in lungs of animals exposed to alpha-cristobalite. Thus, whereas heat-induced surface changes in alpha-cristobalite markedly altered the hemolytic activity of the particles, no changes were observed in the fibrotic response.