What Are Mesothelial Cells?
Human mesothelial cells are the building blocks for different parts of the mesothelium known as the serosal cavities and connective tissues.
Mesothelial cells are a type of epithelial cell, which are cells that form the protective surface for many organs.
However, benign mesothelial cells can mutate into mesothelioma cancer after asbestos exposure.
Key Facts on Mesothelial Cells
- Make up the pleura (lung lining), peritoneum (abdominal lining), pericardium (heart lining), and tunica vaginalis (testicular lining)
- Make a slippery secretion that helps the body’s organs move freely without friction
- Help the body’s immune system when recovering from an injury or fighting an infection
- Can turn into malignant (cancerous) mesothelioma cells 10-50 years after exposure to asbestos
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Characteristics of Mesothelial Cells
Normal mesothelial cells work to protect organs from threats like bacteria and viruses. These cells generally look flat or cube-shaped when viewed under a microscope. However, in cases of severe injury or illness, the cells can change.
Here is a list of rare mesothelial cells and their traits:
- Reactive: Reactive mesothelial cells have large nuclei and look like polyhedrons (three-dimensional shapes). They develop after inflammation or trauma to help with healing.
- Floridly reactive: These cells have large nuclei and clump together in large, scalloped groups.
- Malignant: Benign mesothelial cells can turn malignant (cancerous) when damaged by asbestos fibers. When this occurs, they are considered to be mesothelioma cells.
Doctors must use great care to correctly identify the type of mesothelial cell you have. All three can look similar, but malignant mesothelioma cells require prompt treatment.
How Asbestos Causes Mesothelial Cells to Become Cancerous
Asbestos fibers harm mesothelial cells, mutating them into cancer cells.
If you were exposed to asbestos, you could breathe in or swallow fibrous particles. These asbestos fibers may then travel to different parts of the mesothelium through the lymphatic system and get trapped.
Healthy mesothelial cells can suffer chronic irritation from asbestos fibers. This leads to the release of cytokines, proteins that control inflammation.
Your body makes cytokines to fight diseases and foreign threats like asbestos. But, in the case of asbestos, too many of these cytokines are released. This allows cells damaged by asbestos to stay alive. After a latency period of 10-50 years, the affected mesothelial cells can mutate into mesothelioma cells.
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Mesothelial Cells & Types of Mesothelioma
Different types of mesothelioma can form after mesothelial cells are exposed to asbestos. Which type forms depends on the part of the mesothelium affected. Learn about these locations and the types of mesothelioma associated with them below.
Pleural Mesothelial Cells
Mesothelial cells are the most common cells in the pleural cavity and play a key role in how the lungs function.
Pleural mesothelial cells:
- Absorb lung fluid: Mesothelial cells make up the two layers of the pleura, which are surrounded by fluid. Normally there is about half a cup of fluid in the pleural lining. Mesothelial cells in pleural fluid absorb the excess to help prevent buildup.
- Help with breathing: The pleural fluid creates a slippery surface that allows the lungs to glide in the chest cavity without getting stuck. If adhesion were to occur, it could lead to serious health issues.
- Protect the lungs: Mesothelial cells prevent organisms like bacteria, viruses, and other foreign particles from entering into the pleural cavity. Mesothelial cells completely surround the bacteria and destroy them. But, asbestos fibers can’t be broken down by the cells as they’re so strong.
If mesothelial cells in the pleura are exposed to asbestos, they can mutate into pleural mesothelioma.
Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells
The mesothelial cells that make up the peritoneum provide a barrier for abdominal organs and tissues, protecting them from disease. However, asbestos can cause mutations that turn peritoneal mesothelial cells cancerous.
Peritoneal mesothelioma cells can then kill healthy mesothelial cells in the peritoneal cavity by releasing cytokines, according to a 2022 study published by Cancers.
Mesothelial Cells & Rare Types of Mesothelioma
The testicles and heart also have their own linings.
In very rare cases, asbestos fibers can reach either of these linings, causing pericardial mesothelioma or testicular mesothelioma.
Regardless of what type of mesothelioma you’ve been diagnosed with, we can help. Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to learn about treatments, top doctors, and much more.
Symptoms of Malignant Mesothelial Cells
Malignant mesothelial cells don’t function like healthy ones, which can cause patients to develop uncomfortable symptoms.
Common mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Buildup of fluid: Mesothelioma cancer cells won’t absorb fluid in the serous cavities. This can lead to fluid buildup in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) or in the peritoneal cavity (ascites or peritoneal effusion).
- Chest pain: Pleural effusions can lead to pain in the chest.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss: When the abdominal cavity is filled with fluid, you may not have an appetite or get full easily. This can lead to rapid weight loss.
- Shortness of breath: Patients may have a hard time breathing due to pleural effusion.
Many patients with malignant mesothelioma won’t have symptoms until cancer spread (metastasis) has occurred.
It’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you were exposed to asbestos and now have possible mesothelioma symptoms. A mesothelioma specialist can accurately diagnose you and, if needed, recommend treatments to help you live as long as possible.
Diagnosing Malignant Mesothelial Cells
If doctors suspect you may have malignant mesothelioma, they’ll take specific steps to confirm your diagnosis.
First, they’ll perform a basic physical exam to discuss your symptoms and medical history. Tell your doctor if you were ever exposed to asbestos — this can help rule out more common health issues that could be responsible for your symptoms.
From there, doctors may use diagnostic tests like:
- Imaging scans: These can’t detect specific cells but allow doctors to see if there are any strange masses, lesions, or lumps in your body.
- Fluid cytology: Doctors look for mesothelial cells in pleural or peritoneal fluid if you have an effusion. However, it’s hard to make a diagnosis with just this test as mesothelial cells could be confused with cancer cells.
- Biopsy: Whenever a doctor suspects cancer, they will nearly always perform a biopsy to remove a tissue or fluid sample and look for abnormal cells under a microscope.
- Immunohistochemistry: This allows doctors to “stain” a biopsy result to help in the differentiation of cancer cells from non-cancerous ones.
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a specialist can recommend treatments to help you live as long as possible.
Misdiagnosing Mesothelial Cells
Doctors need to carefully examine the mesothelial cells they remove through a biopsy to determine if they are cancerous or not. Otherwise, a patient could suffer a mesothelioma misdiagnosis.
Common misdiagnoses of mesothelial cells include:
- Malignant mesothelioma: A 2022 report published in CytoJournal noted there is a significant overlap between benign and malignant mesothelial cells. In particular, reactive and floridly reactive mesothelial cells look similar to mesothelioma cells.
- Carcinoma: The cells of adenocarcinoma may look like mesothelial cells or mesothelioma cells.
- Ovarian cancer: Some cases of peritoneal mesothelioma could be mistaken for ovarian cancer.
- Squamous cells: Mesothelial cells have a similar structure (morphology) to squamous cells, but in reality, they are a unique type of epithelial cell.
If you believe you’ve been misdiagnosed, you can seek a second opinion, where a doctor will review your initial imaging scans and biopsy results. This will help ensure that you get an accurate diagnosis and the best treatments for your case.
Use our Free Doctor Match service to connect with mesothelioma specialists near you who can help confirm a diagnosis. It only takes a few seconds to get started.
Treatment for Malignant Mesothelial Cells
Doctors can recommend a wide range of treatments for malignant mesothelial cells. Which treatments will work best for you depends on where the cancer formed, its stage, and your overall health.
Possible treatments for malignant mesothelioma cells include:
- Surgery: Used if the cancer is diagnosed in an early stage to remove tumors
- Chemotherapy: Stops cell growth and shrinks tumors using medications
- Radiation: Destroys tumors through the use of painless energy beams
- Immunotherapy: Boosts the body’s immune response to cancer
Doctors will typically recommend multimodal therapy, where at least two treatments are combined to fight mesothelioma and destroy as much of the cancer as possible.
Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide shipped overnight to find out which are recommended for your particular case.
Get Help for Malignant Mesothelial Cells
Malignant mesothelial cells can be life-threatening, but our team can help you or someone you love right now.
Mesothelioma Hope was founded to support the needs of anyone facing mesothelioma, and we can connect you with key resources to help you fight this cancer.
Contact us now to access:
- Personalized medical guidance from our registered nurses
- Free financial resources that can help you cover cancer-related expenses
- Mental and emotional support to navigate life with mesothelioma
Call (866) 608-8933 or use our Free Doctor Match to get started with help from our Patient Advocates. There’s no cost to speak with us.
Mesothelial Cell FAQs
What type of cells are mesothelial cells?
Mesothelial cells are special cells that form a protective layer called the mesothelium. This layer covers and protects the organs in your chest, abdomen, and around your heart.
These cells help produce a lubricating fluid that allows organs to move smoothly, like when your lungs expand and contract. When mesothelial cells are damaged from asbestos exposure, they can turn into cancer cells, leading to mesothelioma.
Is it normal to have mesothelial cells?
Yes, it is normal to have mesothelial cells. These cells make up your body’s internal lining and help protect vital organs like the lungs and heart.
Malignant mesothelial cells, on the other hand, are abnormal. If doctors find malignant cells through medical tests, you have cancer.
Where are mesothelial cells found?
Mesothelial cells are found in the mesothelium, which is the thin layer of tissue that covers the body cavity.
Mesothelial cells make up the lining of the lungs, heart, testicles, and abdomen. However, these cells can become cancerous if harmed by asbestos fibers that get trapped in the body.
If a doctor thinks you may have cancer, you can get our Free Mesothelioma Guide, shipped overnight to better understand your treatment options.
What do mesothelial cells in pleural fluid mean?
Mesothelial cells in pleural fluid mean that cells from the lung lining are present in fluid taken from the chest area.
This can indicate several conditions, ranging from inflammation or infection (pleuritis) to more serious conditions like malignant pleural effusion, which can be associated with cancers like mesothelioma.
If your doctor sees mesothelioma cells in your pleural fluid, they’ll need to do more tests to find out the underlying cause.
What are reactive mesothelial cells?
Normal mesothelial cells can turn into reactive ones when the mesothelium is injured or attacked by an illness, according to a report published in Cytopathology.
As part of the body’s response to a health issue, reactive mesothelial cells enlarge and spread quickly. However, once the health problem resolves, the cells return to normal.
What is the difference between reactive vs. malignant mesothelial cells?
Malignant mesothelial cells are cancerous and can spread rapidly through the body, forming tumors that can shut down organs and lead to death. They are also known as mesothelioma cells.
While reactive mesothelial cells resemble malignant cells, they aren’t cancer.
What is the treatment for reactive mesothelial cells?
Reactive mesothelial cells don’t require treatment. It’s normal for your body to develop reactive mesothelial cells after an injury or illness.
That said, doctors could potentially mistake cancerous mesothelioma cells for benign reactive cells when looking at the results of a biopsy under a microscope.
If you aren’t fully confident in your diagnosis, get a second opinion to ensure you were diagnosed correctly.
Call (866) 608-8933 to get matched with top mesothelioma doctors who can properly diagnose and treat you.
What is a biopsy for mesothelial cells?
A biopsy is a procedure that allows doctors to remove a sample of fluid or tissue to see if mesothelial cells are present. It’s part of a branch of medicine known as histology.
A biopsy provides doctors with details about:
- How cells develop
- Which (if any) cells have abnormal changes
- The general cell-growth pattern
In the case of a mesothelioma biopsy, doctors will look for the presence of abnormal mesothelial cells.
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