Constitutive Activation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Promotes Tumorigenesis of Cr(VI)-transformed Cells through Decreased Reactive Oxygen Species and Apoptosis Resistance Development |
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Authors: | Donghern Kim Jin Dai Leonard Yenwong Fai Hua Yao Young-Ok Son Lei Wang Poyil Pratheeshkumar Kazuya Kondo Xianglin Shi Zhuo Zhang |
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Institution: | From the ‡Graduate Center for Toxicology and ;¶Center for Research on Environmental Disease, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536.;§Department of Stomatology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China, and ;‖Department of Oncological Medical Services, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan |
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Abstract: | Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) compounds are well-established lung carcinogens. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptor that regulates cell survival, tumor invasion, and angiogenesis. Our results show that chronic exposure of human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells to Cr(VI) is able to cause malignant cell transformation. These transformed cells exhibit apoptosis resistance with reduced poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage (C-PARP) and Bax expression and enhanced expressions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. These transformed cells also exhibit reduced capacity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation along with elevated expression of antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). The expression of this antioxidant was also elevated in lung tumor tissue from a worker exposed to Cr(VI) for 19 years. EGFR was activated in Cr(VI)-transformed BEAS-2B cells, lung tissue from animals exposed to Cr(VI) particles, and human lung tumor tissue. Further study indicates that constitutive activation of EGFR in Cr(VI)-transformed cells was due to increased binding to its ligand amphiregulin (AREG). Inhibition of EGFR or AREG increased Bax expression and reduced Bcl-2 expression, resulting in reduced apoptosis resistance. Furthermore, inhibition of AREG or EGFR restored capacity of ROS generation and decreased SOD2 expression. PI3K/AKT was activated, which depended on EGFR in Cr(VI)-transformed BEAS-2B cells. Inhibition of PI3K/AKT increased ROS generation and reduced SOD2 expression, resulting in reduced apoptosis resistance with commitment increase in Bax expression and reduction of Bcl-2 expression. Xenograft mouse tumor study further demonstrates the essential role of EGFR in tumorigenesis of Cr(VI)-transformed cells. In summary, the present study suggests that ligand-dependent constitutive activation of EGFR causes reduced ROS generation and increased antioxidant expression, leading to development of apoptosis resistance, contributing to Cr(VI)-induced tumorigenesis. |
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Keywords: | Antioxidant Apoptosis Carcinogenesis Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Cr(VI) |
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