Mechanism of haemolysis by chrysotile fibres.

Haemolysis by chrysotile fibres may be related to an adsorption of the red blood cell (RBC) membranes on the fibres and not to an interaction between magnesium (Mg) from the fibres and sialic acid from RBC. This was demonstrated using neuraminidase (NANASE)-treated RBC and Mg-depleted chrysotile fibres. The mechanism may be extended to other minerals since a relationship can be obtained between the ability of various minerals to adsorb liposomes of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and their haemolytic activity.