PM2.5exposure-induced autophagy is mediated by lncRNA loc146880 which also promotes the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells.
Evidence shows that individuals who are under long-term exposure to environmental PM2.5are at increased risk of lung cancer. Various laboratory experiments also suggest several mechanistic links between PM2.5exposure and lung carcinogenesis. However, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) mediated pathogenic change after PM2.5exposure and its potential roles in tumorigenesis and disease progression have not been reported.



Cytotoxicity induced by PM2.5was assessed by using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. ROS generation, autophagy, and metastasis induced by PM2.5were detected by using comprehensive approaches. Expression of lncRNA-loc146880 and lc3b (autophagy marker) in A549 cells, lung tissue and serum were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting.



PM2.5could be internalized into lung cancer cells, resulting in marked increases in ROS levels and autophagy. ROS may be responsible for increased expression of loc146880 which further up-regulates autophagy. Both loc146880 and autophagy could promote lung tumor cell migration, invasion and EMT. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between loc146880 expression and lc3b levels in tumor tissues and serum of lung cancer patients.



Taken together, our data suggest that PM2.5exposure induces ROS, which activates loc146880 expression. The lncRNA, in turn, up-regulates autophagy and promotes the malignant behaviors of lung cancer cells.



The results show the toxicological effects of PM2.5in lung tumor progression and metastasis.
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: dengxiaobei@126.com.
Xiaobei
X
Deng
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: fengnan214@163.com.
Nannan
N
Feng
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: zhengmin8010@126.com.
Min
M
Zheng
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: fly0770@163.com.
Xiaofei
X
Ye
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: cara-chris@sjtu.edu.cn.
Hongyan
H
Lin
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: yuxiao19910101@163.com.
Xiao
X
Yu
College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address: zhgan@mail.buct.edu.cn.
Zhihua
Z
Gan
Department of Anaesthesiology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. Electronic address: shiningbluedan@hotmail.com.
Zheng
Z
Fang
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China. Electronic address: brenda1919@163.com.
Huan
H
Zhang
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China. Electronic address: gaoming68@aliyun.com.
Ming
M
Gao
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: zheng22762@icloud.com.
Zhi-Jie
ZJ
Zheng
Cancer Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. Electronic address: hyu@cc.hawaii.edu.
Herbert
H
Yu
Laboratory of Environment and Health, College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: dingwj@ucas.ac.cn.
Wenjun
W
Ding
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: qianbiyun@shsmu.edu.cn.
Biyun
B
Qian
D000072283:A549 Cells; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D052638:Particulate Matter; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
Autophagy; Loc146880; Lung cancer; PM(2.5); Reactive oxygen species