The macro-biomolecular mimicry by asbestos

Much is known about specific mechanisms by which asbestos induces mesothelioma (MM). Asbestos causes expression, silencing and mutation in genes, as viewed by methylation and mutation profiles and biomarkers. While much is known about how the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) works, the question ‘why does asbestos exert this AOP?’ has comparatively not yet been answered with much satisfaction. This paper explores lines of evidence suggesting that asbestos exerts its AOPs because it biophysically resembles various biomechanical macromolecular fibers in the body. This makes the body ‘think’ that it is operating under a modus operandi which it is not. Asbestos fibers resemble endogenous polymeric fibers, which form communication architectures, leading to misrecognition by matrix-sensing systems. The body cannot clear asbestos and applies its reparatory, rebalancing and compensatory modus operandi chronically. These otherwise adaptive mechanisms become maladaptive, leading directly to MM. Future research should target asbestos's mimicry to improve detection and reduce chronic damage.