The potential toxicity of tire debris organic extracts on human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) was investigated. We analysed time- and dose dependent modifications produced on plasma membrane molecular composition and on lipid microdomains expression (caveolae and lipid rafts) that represent specific signalling platforms. Cells were exposed to increasing organic extract concentrations (10, 60 and 75 μg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 h. An up to three fold dose and time dependent increase in specific protein markers of lipid microdomains was found, suggesting a corresponding increase in signalling platforms. Since the total pool of these plasma membrane markers was unchanged, we supposed that these proteins were translocated within the plasma membrane as to assemble the newly formed lipid microdomains. Despite no major modifications in lipid bilayer composition, a time- and dose dependent toxic effect was documented at 48 h of exposure by an increase of cells positive to Trypan Blue assay. After 48 h a dose dependent increase in the cell medium of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase was also observed, indicating greater damage of the plasma membrane as prenecrotic sign. The overall ultrastructural morphology of the plasma membrane of treated cells was not greatly modified, suggesting that organic extracts from tire debris cause focalized discontinuities on cell surfaces. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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