False-colour scanning electron micrograph of a macrophage impaled on an asbestos needle: the specimen was taken from a person suffering from asbestosis,a lung disease (a form of pneumoconiosis) caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres. Ordinarily,small particles in lung would be engulfed (phagocytosed) by the macrophage (a mobile scavenger cell): asbestos needles are virtually indestructible & puncture the macrophages,destroying them & releasing their contents onto surrounding lung tissue. Exposure to asbestos is also linked with development of mesotheliomas (cancers of pleura). Magnification: X 820 at 35mm size | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / UNITE DES VIRUS ONCONGENES / INSTITUT PASTEUR |
Taille de l’image : | 3219 px × 3589 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |