Metabolic regulation of tumor cells exposed to different oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Rui Gao; Zihao Jiang; Xiuyu Wu; Zhihong Cai; Nan Sang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167833

Metabolic regulation of tumor cells exposed to different oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 10:907:167833. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167833. Epub 2023 Oct 13.

Authors

Rui Gao¹, Zihao Jiang², Xiuyu Wu³, Zhihong Cai³, Nan Sang⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong 030600, PR China; College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China.
² School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong 030600, PR China.
³ College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China.
⁴ College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China. Electronic address: sangnan@sxu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37839476
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167833

Abstract

Oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) are a class of polycyclic aromatic derivatives with oxygen-containing functional groups that induce oxidative stress and mutations. However, studies of the carcinogenic and metabolic effects of OPAHs are limited. In this study, we analyzed the carcinogenic effects of four different OPAHs and found that 9-fluorenone (FLO), 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ), and 7,12-benz(a)anthraquinone (BAQ) promoted cell invasion and metastasis via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and induced endothelial cell angiogenesis by affecting the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin (ANG), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), whereas 1,8-naphthalic anhydride (NAD) did not show significant carcinogenic effects. In addition, combined with metabolomic analysis, we found that the tumor-promoting effects of different OPAHs were related to their effects on the metabolome, especially the metabolism of glutathione related to oxidative stress. These results provide an experimental basis for studying the carcinogenic and metabolic effects of OPAHs, and an important reference for comprehensively assessing the ecological and health risks of this compounds.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; EMT; Metabolic regulation; Oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Tumor.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Oxidative Stress
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / toxicity
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / analysis

Substances

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Air Pollutants
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A