Epithelial-mesenchymal transition effect of fine particulate matter from the Yangtze River Delta region in China on human bronchial epithelial cells.

Journal: Journal of environmental sciences (China)
PMID: 29628082

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that fine particulate matter (PM) exposure causes airway inflammation, which may lead to lung cancer. The activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is assumed to be a crucial step in lung tumor metastasis and development. We assessed the EMT effect of low concentrations (0, 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0μg/mL) of PM organic extract on a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B). PM samples were collected from three cities (Shanghai, Ningbo, and Nanjing) in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in autumn 2014. BEAS-2B cells were exposed to the PM extract to assess cell viability, invasion ability as well as the relative mRNA and protein expressions of EMT markers. Our findings revealed that BEAS-2B cells changed from the epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype after exposure. In all groups, PM exposure dose-dependently decreased the expression of E-cadherin and increased the expression of Vimentin. The key transcription factors, including ZEB1 and Slug, were significantly up-regulated upon exposure. These results indicated that the PM organic extract induced different degrees of EMT progression in BEAS-2B cells. The cell invasion ability increased in a concentration-dependent manner after 48hr of treatment with the extract. This study offers a novel insight into the effects of PM on EMT and the potential health risks associated with PM in the YRD region.

Authors

  • Yulang Chi
    Center for Excellence in Urban Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: ylchi@iue.ac.cn.
  • Qiansheng Huang
    Center for Excellence in Urban Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China. Electronic address: qshuang@iue.ac.cn.
  • Yi Lin
    Center for Excellence in Urban Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
  • Guozhu Ye
    Center for Excellence in Urban Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
  • Huimin Zhu
    Center for Excellence in Urban Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
  • Sijun Dong
    Center for Excellence in Urban Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China. Electronic address: sjdong@iue.ac.cn.

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