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Granata S, Vivarelli F, Morosini C, Canistro D, Paolini M, Fairclough LC. Toxicological Aspects Associated with Consumption from Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS): Focus on Heavy Metals Exposure and Cancer Risk. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2737. [PMID: 38473984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tobacco smoking remains one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDSs) are proposed as a tool for smoking cessation. In the last few years, a growing number of different types of ENDSs were launched onto the market. Despite the manufacturing differences, ENDSs can be classified as "liquid e-cigarettes" (e-cigs) equipped with an atomizer that vaporizes a liquid composed of vegetable glycerin (VG), polypropylene glycol (PG), and nicotine, with the possible addition of flavorings; otherwise, the "heated tobacco products" (HTPs) heat tobacco sticks through contact with an electronic heating metal element. The presence of some metals in the heating systems, as well as in solder joints, involves the possibility that heavy metal ions can move from these components to the liquid, or they can be adsorbed into the tobacco stick from the heating blade in the case of HTPs. Recent evidence has indicated the presence of heavy metals in the refill liquids and in the mainstream such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb). The present review discusses the toxicological aspects associated with the exposition of heavy metals by consumption from ENDSs, focusing on metal carcinogenesis risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Granata
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Vivarelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Morosini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Canistro
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Moreno Paolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucy C Fairclough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, East Dr, Nottingham NG7 2TQ, UK
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Xu W, Cui J, Busayli AM, Zhang T, Chen G. Arsenic up-regulates PD-L1 and enhances lung tumorigenesis through activation of STAT3 in alveolar epithelial type 2 cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 482:116787. [PMID: 38101582 PMCID: PMC10843590 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is a carcinogen and chronic exposure to arsenic increases the risk of many cancers, including lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Using A/J mice as a model, our previous animal study has shown that chronic arsenic exposure up-regulates PD-L1 on lung tumor cells which interacts with PD-1 on T cells and inhibits T cell anti-tumor function resulting in increased lung tumorigenesis. In a subsequent in vitro study, we further found that arsenic up-regulated PD-L1 by activating STAT3 at tyrosine 705 in lung epithelial cells, and inhibition of STAT3 mitigated arsenic-induced PD-L1 up-regulation. The present study aims to determine whether STAT3 regulates PD-L1 in the lung of A/J mice and the type of cells from which lung tumor develops upon arsenic exposure. For that purpose, a mouse line with STAT3 conditional knockout in alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells was developed. Our results indicate that arsenic exposure up-regulates PD-L1 in AT2 cells through activating STAT3 in A/J mice. Conditional knockout of STAT3 in AT2 cells inhibited arsenic-induced PD-L1 up-regulation and lung tumor formation. Thus, our findings reveal that STAT3 is the upstream regulator of arsenic-induced PD-L1 up-regulation in AT2 cells and the inhibition of T cell anti-tumor function in the lung, and that AT2 cells are sensitive to arsenic exposure and from which arsenic-enhanced lung tumor formation in A/J mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Xu
- Department Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Jiajun Cui
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi 336000, China
| | - Abdulrahman M Busayli
- Department Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of General Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
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Shehata SA, Toraih EA, Ismail EA, Hagras AM, Elmorsy E, Fawzy MS. Vaping, Environmental Toxicants Exposure, and Lung Cancer Risk. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4525. [PMID: 37760496 PMCID: PMC10526315 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer (LC) is the second-most prevalent tumor worldwide. According to the most recent GLOBOCAN data, over 2.2 million LC cases were reported in 2020, with an estimated new death incident of 1,796,144 lung cancer cases. Genetic, lifestyle, and environmental exposure play an important role as risk factors for LC. E-cigarette, or vaping, products (EVPs) use has been dramatically increasing world-wide. There is growing concern that EVPs consumption may increase the risk of LC because EVPs contain several proven carcinogenic compounds. However, the relationship between EVPs and LC is not well established. E-cigarette contains nicotine derivatives (e.g., nitrosnornicotine, nitrosamine ketone), heavy metals (including organometal compounds), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and flavorings (aldehydes and complex organics). Several environmental toxicants have been proven to contribute to LC. Proven and plausible environmental carcinogens could be physical (ionizing and non-ionizing radiation), chemicals (such as asbestos, formaldehyde, and dioxins), and heavy metals (such as cobalt, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel). Air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM) emitted from vehicles and industrial exhausts, is linked with LC. Although extensive environmental exposure prevention policies and smoking reduction strategies have been adopted globally, the dangers remain. Combined, both EVPs and toxic environmental exposures may demonstrate significant synergistic oncogenicity. This review aims to analyze the current publications on the importance of the relationship between EVPs consumption and environmental toxicants in the pathogenesis of LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaimaa A. Shehata
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; (S.A.S.); (A.M.H.)
| | - Eman A. Toraih
- Division of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
- Genetics Unit, Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Ezzat A. Ismail
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt;
| | - Abeer M. Hagras
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; (S.A.S.); (A.M.H.)
| | - Ekramy Elmorsy
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 73213, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Manal S. Fawzy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 73213, Saudi Arabia
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Giles BH, Mann KK. Arsenic as an immunotoxicant. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 454:116248. [PMID: 36122737 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic is world-wide contaminant to which millions of people are exposed. The health consequences of arsenic exposure are varied, including cancer, cardiometabolic disease, and respiratory disorders. Arsenic is also toxic to the immune system, which may link many of the pathologies associated with arsenic exposure. The immune system can be classified into two interconnected arms: the innate and the adaptive immune responses. Herein, we discuss the effects of arsenic on key cell types within each of these arms, highlighting both in vitro and in vivo responses. These cells include macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and both B and T lymphocytes. Furthermore, we will explore data from human populations where altered immune status is implicated in disease and identify several data gaps where research is needed to complete our understanding of the immunotoxic effects of arsenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braeden H Giles
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Koren K Mann
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Xu W, Wu L, Xu M, Luo J, Chen G. Ethanol Exposure Up-Regulates PD-L1/PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Pathway and Promotes Mammary Tumor Development. Front Oncol 2022; 12:874156. [PMID: 35756611 PMCID: PMC9213659 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.874156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol consumption in women enhances breast cancer incidence and ethanol is the main causal factor. Compromised host immunity through immunosuppression facilitates the development of many types of cancer, including breast cancer. Immune cells in breast tissues, particularly tumor-infiltrating CD8 cytotoxic T cells, play a critical role in the host anti-tumor immunity against breast tumorigenesis. These cytotoxic T cells are the major immune cells to carry out anti-tumor immunity through their cytotoxic effector function, which can be regulated by immune checkpoint pathways. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway (the interaction between programmed death-1, PD-1, and its ligand, programmed death-ligand 1, PD-L1) is the best characterized one. However, the effects of ethanol exposure on T cell anti-tumor immunity and how that may contribute to ethanol-enhanced mammary tumorigenicity remain unknown. FVB.Cg-Tg(Wnt1)1Hev/J transgenic mice develop spontaneous mammary tumors starting around the age of 2-3 months and have been a widely-used mouse model for breast cancer research. Using this mouse model, the current study determined the effects of ethanol on the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway and how that may contribute to mammary tumorigenesis. The results indicated that ethanol exposure enhanced mammary tumor formation accompanied with an up-regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway (increased PD-L1 levels in tumor tissue cells and the amount of PD-1-expressing tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells) and inhibited T cell anti-tumor function, while inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 restored T cell anti-tumor effector function and mitigated ethanol-enhanced tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Xu
- Department Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Linqing Wu
- Department Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mei Xu
- Department Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Jia Luo
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Gang Chen
- Department Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
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The mechanism underlying arsenic-induced PD-L1 upregulation in transformed BEAS-2B cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 435:115845. [PMID: 34953898 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to arsenic promotes lung cancer. Human studies have identified immunosuppression as a risk factor for cancer development. The immune checkpoint pathway of Programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) and its receptor (programmed cell death receptor 1, PD-1) is the most studied mechanism of immunosuppression. We have previously shown that prolonged arsenic exposure induced cell transformation of BEAS-2B cells, a human lung epithelial cell line. More recently our study further showed that arsenic induced PD-L1 up-regulation, inhibited T cell effector function, and enhanced lung tumor formation in the mice. In the current study, using arsenic-induced BEAS-2B transformation as a model system we investigated the mechanism underlying PD-L1 up-regulation by arsenic. Our data suggests that Lnc-DC, a long non-coding RNA, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mediates PD-L1 up-regulation by arsenic.
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