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Xiong R, Du Y, Chen S, Liu T, Ding X, Zhou J, Wang Z, Yang Q. Hypermethylation of the ADIRF promoter regulates its expression level and is involved in NNK-induced malignant transformation of lung bronchial epithelial cells. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:3243-3258. [PMID: 37777989 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03608-y] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The carcinogenic mechanism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a well-known tobacco carcinogen, has not been fully elucidated in epigenetic studies. 5-Methylcytosine (5mC) modification plays a major role in epigenetic regulation. In this study, the 5mC level increased in both BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelium cells treated with 100 mg/L NNK for 24 h and NNK-induced malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells (2B-NNK cells), suggesting that 5mC modification is associated with the malignant transformation mechanism of NNK. Using a combination of Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (MeDIP-seq), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and bioinformatics analysis of data from the Genomic Data Commons database, we found that the Adipogenesis regulatory factor (ADIRF) promoter region was abnormally hypermethylated, yielding low ADIRF mRNA expression, and that ADIRF overexpression could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of 2B-NNK cells. This finding suggests that ADIRF plays a tumor suppressor role in the NNK-induced malignant transformation of cells. Subsequently, using 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-2'-dC) and the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Catalytically Dead Cas9 (dCas9 system), we verified that the demethylation of the ADIRF promoter region in 2B-NNK cells inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of the cells and increased their apoptosis ability. These results suggest that abnormal 5mC modification of the ADIRF promoter plays a positive regulatory role in the pathogenesis of NNK-induced lung cancer. This study offers a new experimental basis for the epigenetic mechanism of NNK-induced lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xiong
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiheng Du
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Sili Chen
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Liu
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyu Ding
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxin Zhou
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Occupational Environment and Health, Guangzhou Twelfth People's Hospital, 1 Tianqiang St., Huangpu West Ave, Guangzhou, 510620, China
| | - Qiaoyuan Yang
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China.
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Liu Y, Ding W, Wang J, Ao X, Xue J. Non-coding RNAs in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1256537. [PMID: 37746261 PMCID: PMC10514911 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1256537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer (LC) is a heterogeneous disease with high malignant degree, rapid growth, and early metastasis. The clinical outcomes of LC patients are generally poor due to the insufficient elucidation of pathological mechanisms, low efficiency of detection and assessment methods, and lack of individualized therapeutic strategies. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA), are endogenous regulators that are widely involved in the modulation of almost all aspects of life activities, from organogenesis and aging to immunity and cancer. They commonly play vital roles in various biological processes by regulating gene expression via their interactions with DNA, RNA, or protein. An increasing amount of studies have demonstrated that ncRNAs are closely correlated with the initiation and development of LC. Their dysregulation promotes the progression of LC via distinct mechanisms, such as influencing protein activity, activating oncogenic signaling pathways, or altering specific gene expression. Furthermore, some ncRNAs present certain clinical values as biomarker candidates and therapeutic targets for LC patients. A complete understanding of their mechanisms in LC progression may be highly beneficial to developing ncRNA-based therapeutics for LC patients. This review mainly focuses on the intricate mechanisms of miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA involved in LC progression and discuss their underlying applications in LC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Ding
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jianxun Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiang Ao
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Junqiang Xue
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Jiang G, Song X, Xie J, Shi T, Yang Q. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air of Guangzhou city: Exposure levels, health effects and cytotoxicity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115308. [PMID: 37544068 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM2.5 pose potentially serious threats to human health. In this study, the distribution characteristics of 16 priority controlled, fine PM (PM2.5)-bound PAHs in the ambient air of Guangzhou city were analysed from 2016 to 2019. Four high-molecular-weight PAHs with the highest annual average concentrations were benzo[ghi]perylene (BghiP; 0.757 ng/m3), indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (IcdP; 0.627 ng/m3), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF, 0.519 ng/m3) and 3,4-benzopyrene (BaP; 0.426 ng/m3). Increasing concentrations of BghiP, IcdP, BbF and BaP were associated with increasing numbers of outpatient visits for respiratory diseases, indicating that exposure to these PAHs potentially causes acute respiratory injury in residents. Acute exposure of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B cells to BghiP, IcdP, BbF and BaP in vitro resulted in acute inflammation, DNA damage and apoptosis. Further bioinformatic analysis indicated that nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (NR1D1) may be a key target gene involved in mediating the toxic effects of BghiP. Collectively, our results suggest that BghiP and the other PAHs represented by it can damage the respiratory system and induce lung cancer. This study provides valuable evidence regarding the potential health risks posed by local ambient PAHs pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanqing Jiang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Xu Song
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Jiaying Xie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Tongxing Shi
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1 Qide Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510440, PR China
| | - Qiaoyuan Yang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China.
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Wang X, Sun M, Gao Z, Yin L, Pu Y, Zhu Y, Wang X, Liu R. N-nitrosamines-mediated downregulation of LncRNA-UCA1 induces carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous by regulating the alternative splicing of FGFR2. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 855:158918. [PMID: 36169023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Concerns are raised over the risk to digestive system's tumors from the N-nitrosamines (NAs) exposure in drinking water. Albeit considerable studies are conducted to explore the underlying mechanism responsible for NAs-induced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the exact molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown, especially at the epigenetic regulation level. In this study, it is revealed that the urinary concentration of N-Nitrosodiethylamine is higher in high incidence area of ESCC, and the lncRNA-UCA1(UCA1) is significantly decreased in ESCC tissues. In vitro and in vivo experiments further show that UCA1 is involved in the malignant transformation of Het-1A cells and precancerous lesions of the rat esophagus induced by N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBzA). Functional gain and loss experiments verify UCA1 can affect the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, through binding to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein F (hnRNP F) protein, UCA1 regulates alternative splicing of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), which promotes the FGFR2IIIb isoform switching to FGFR2 IIIc isoform, and the latter activates epithelial-mesenchymal transition via PI3K-AKT signaling pathways impacting tumorigenesis. Therefore, NAs-mediated downregulation of UCA1 promotes ESCC progression through targeting hnRNP F/FGFR2/PI3k-AKT axis, which provides a new chemical carcinogenic target and establishes a previously unknown mechanism for NAs-induced ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingjun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhikui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lihong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuepu Pu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Laboratory Animal Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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Zheng J, Wang J, Qin X, Li K, Gao Q, Yang M, Liu H, Li S, Chang X, Sun Y. LncRNA HOTAIRM1 Involved in Nano NiO-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis via Regulating PRKCB DNA Methylation-Mediated JNK/c-Jun Pathway. Toxicol Sci 2022; 190:64-78. [PMID: 36066426 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Nickel oxide nanoparticles (Nano NiO) lead to pulmonary fibrosis, and the mechanisms are associated with epigenetics. This study aimed to clarify the regulatory relationship among long noncoding RNA HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1), DNA methylation and expression of protein kinase C beta (PRKCB), and JNK/c-Jun pathway in Nano NiO-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, we constructed the rat pulmonary fibrosis model by intratracheal instillation of Nano NiO twice a week for 9 weeks and established the collagen deposition model by treating BEAS-2B cells with Nano NiO for 24 h. Here, the DNA methylation pattern was analyzed by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in rat fibrotic lung tissues. Then, we integrated mRNA transcriptome data and found 93 DNA methylation genes with transcriptional significance. Meanwhile, the data showed that Nano NiO caused the down-regulation of lncRNA HOTAIRM1, the hypomethylation, and up-regulation of PRKCB2, JNK/c-Jun pathway activation, and collagen deposition (the up-regulated Col-I and α-SMA) both in vivo and in vitro. DNMTs inhibitor 5-AZDC attenuated Nano NiO-induced PRKCB2 expression, JNK/c-Jun pathway activation, and collagen deposition, but overexpression of PRKCB2 aggravated the changes mentioned indicators in Nano NiO-induced BEAS-2B cells. Furthermore, JNK/c-Jun pathway inhibitor (SP600125) alleviated Nano NiO-induced excessive collagen formation. Additionally, overexpression of HOTAIRM1 restrained the PRKCB hypomethylation, the activation of JNK/c-Jun pathway, and collagen formation induced by Nano NiO in BEAS-2B cells. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that HOTAIRM1 could arrest Nano NiO-induced pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the PRKCB DNA methylation-mediated JNK/c-Jun pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfa Zheng
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jinyu Wang
- Institute of Anthropotomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xin Qin
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kun Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qing Gao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mengmeng Yang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Han Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Public Health, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Xuhong Chang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yingbiao Sun
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Piergentili R, Basile G, Nocella C, Carnevale R, Marinelli E, Patrone R, Zaami S. Using ncRNAs as Tools in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment-The Way towards Personalized Medicine to Improve Patients' Health. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169353. [PMID: 36012617 PMCID: PMC9409241 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the first discovery of a non-coding RNA (ncRNA) dates back to 1958, only in recent years has the complexity of the transcriptome started to be elucidated. However, its components are still under investigation and their identification is one of the challenges that scientists are presently facing. In addition, their function is still far from being fully understood. The non-coding portion of the genome is indeed the largest, both quantitatively and qualitatively. A large fraction of these ncRNAs have a regulatory role either in coding mRNAs or in other ncRNAs, creating an intracellular network of crossed interactions (competing endogenous RNA networks, or ceRNET) that fine-tune the gene expression in both health and disease. The alteration of the equilibrium among such interactions can be enough to cause a transition from health to disease, but the opposite is equally true, leading to the possibility of intervening based on these mechanisms to cure human conditions. In this review, we summarize the present knowledge on these mechanisms, illustrating how they can be used for disease treatment, the current challenges and pitfalls, and the roles of environmental and lifestyle-related contributing factors, in addition to the ethical, legal, and social issues arising from their (improper) use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Piergentili
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IBPM), 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Basile
- Trauma Unit and Emergency Department, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedics Institute, 20161 Milan, Italy
- Head of Legal Medicine Unit, Clinical Institute San Siro, 20148 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Nocella
- Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Carnevale
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
- Mediterranea Cardiocentro-Napoli, Via Orazio, 80122 Naples, Italy
| | - Enrico Marinelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Renato Patrone
- PhD ICTH, University of Federico II, HPB Department INT F. Pascale IRCCS of Naples, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Zaami
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Zhou J, Xiong R, Zhou J, Guan X, Jiang G, Chen Y, Yang Q. Involvement of m6A regulatory factor IGF2BP1 in malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial Beas-2B cells induced by tobacco carcinogen NNK. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 436:115849. [PMID: 34974052 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a Group 1 human carcinogen, as classified by the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC), and plays a significant role in lung carcinogenesis. However, its carcinogenic mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we performed colony formation assays, soft-agar assays, and tumor growth in nude mice to show that 100 mg/L NNK facilitates the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial Beas-2B cells. Transcriptome sequencing showed that insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), a post-transcriptional regulator, was differentially expressed in NNK-induced malignant transformed Beas-2B cells (2B-NNK cells). Small interfering RNA (SiRNA) was used to downregulate the expression of the IGF2BP1 gene. The reduction in protein expression, cell proliferation rate, and colony-forming ability and the increase in the apoptosis rate of Beas-2B cells transfected with the SiRNA indicated a role for IGF2BP1 in NNK-induced malignant transformation. IGF2BP1 is an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulatory factor, but it is not known whether its association with m6A mediates the malignant transformation of cells. Therefore, we measured the overall levels of m6A in Beas-2B cells. We found that the overall m6A level was lower in 2B-NNK cells, and knocking down IGF2BP1, the overall level of m6A was restored. Hence, we concluded that IGF2BP1 is involved in the NNK-induced malignant transformation of Beas-2B cells, possibly via m6A modification. This study therefore contributes novel insights into the environmental pathogenesis of lung cancer and the gene regulatory mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Zhou
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Rui Xiong
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Jiazhen Zhou
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Xinchao Guan
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Guanqing Jiang
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Yuyang Chen
- School of Anesthesiology, Southern Medical University, 1023-1063 Shatai Nan Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qiaoyuan Yang
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, China; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No. 151 Yanjiang Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510120, China.
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8
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Zhou J, Jiang G, Xu E, Zhou J, Liu L, Yang Q. Identification of SRXN1 and KRT6A as Key Genes in Smoking-Related Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Through Bioinformatics and Functional Analyses. Front Oncol 2022; 11:810301. [PMID: 35071014 PMCID: PMC8767109 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.810301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for lung cancer, few reliable smoking-related biomarkers for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are available. An improved understanding of these biomarkers would further the development of new biomarker-targeted therapies and lead to improvements in overall patient survival. Methods We performed bioinformatic analysis to screened potential target genes, then quantitative PCR, western, siRNA, CCK-8, flow cytometry, tumorigenicity assays in nude mice were performed to validated the function. Results In this study, we identified 83 smoking-related genes (SRGs) based on an integration analysis of two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, and 27 hub SRGs with potential carcinogenic effects by analyzing a dataset of smokers with NSCLC in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A survival analysis revealed three genes with potential prognostic value, namely SRXN1, KRT6A and JAKMIP3. A univariate Cox analysis revealed significant associations of elevated SRXN1 and KRT6A expression with prognosis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated the high diagnostic value of SRXN1 and KRT6A for smoking and cancer. Quantitative PCR and western blotting validated the increased expression of SRXN1 and KRT6A mRNA and protein, respectively, in lung cancer cell lines and NSCLC tissues. In patients with NSCLC, SRXN1 and KRT6A expression was associated with the tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage, presence of metastasis, history of smoking and daily smoking consumption. Furthermore, inhibition of SRXN1 or KRT6A suppressed viability and enhanced apoptosis in the A549 human lung carcinoma cell line. Tumorigenicity assays in nude mice confirmed that the siRNA-mediated downregulation of SRXN1 and KRT6A expression inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Conclusions In summary, SRXN1 and KRT6A act as oncogenes in NSCLC and might be potential biomarkers of smoking exposure and the early diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC in smokers, which is vital for lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhen Zhou
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guanqing Jiang
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Enwu Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command, People's Liberation Army (PLA), Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhou
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lili Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoyuan Yang
- The Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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