PM2.5 induces the distant metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma via promoting the stem cell properties of cancer cells

Junyi Pan; Yueguang Xue; Shilin Li; Liuxiang Wang; Jie Mei; Dongqi Ni; Jipeng Jiang; Meng Zhang; Shaoqiong Yi; Rong Zhang; Yongfu Ma; Yang Liu; Ying Liu

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118718

PM_2.5 induces the distant metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma via promoting the stem cell properties of cancer cells

Environ Pollut. 2022 Mar 1:296:118718. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118718. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Authors

Junyi Pan¹, Yueguang Xue², Shilin Li³, Liuxiang Wang², Jie Mei³, Dongqi Ni³, Jipeng Jiang⁴, Meng Zhang¹, Shaoqiong Yi⁴, Rong Zhang⁵, Yongfu Ma⁴, Yang Liu¹, Ying Liu⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, PR China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, PR China.
² School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, PR China; CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, PR China.
³ CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, PR China.
⁴ Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, PR China.
⁵ Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050017, PR China.
⁶ CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, PR China; GBA National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510700, PR China. Electronic address: liuy@nanoctr.cn.

PMID: 34942288
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118718

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in China and second worldwide, of which the incidence of lung adenocarcinoma is rising. As an independent factor, air pollution has drawn the attention of the public. An increasing body of studies has focused on the effect of PM_2.5 on lung adenocarcinoma; however, the mechanism remains unclear. We collected the PM_2.5 in two megacities, Beijing (BPM) and Shijiazhuang (SPM), located in the capital of China, and compared the different components and sources of PM_2.5 in the two cities. Vehicle emissions are the primary sources of BPM, whereas SPM is industrial emissions. We found that chronic exposure to PM_2.5 promotes the tumorigenesis and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, as well as the migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. SPM has more severe effects in vivo and in vitro. The underlying mechanisms are related to the stem cell properties of cancer cells, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, and the corresponding miRNAs. It is hopeful to provide a theoretical basis for improving air pollution in China, especially in the capital area, and is of the significance of long-term survival of lung cancer patients.

Keywords: Cancer stem cell; Lung cancer; Metastasis; PDX model; PM(2.5); miRNA.

MeSH terms

Adenocarcinoma of Lung*
Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollutants* / toxicity
Air Pollution* / statistics & numerical data
China
Humans
Lung Neoplasms*
Particulate Matter / toxicity
Stem Cells

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter