Mild exposure to fine particulate matter promotes angiogenesis in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with public health problems worldwide. Especially, PM2.5 induces epigenetic and microenvironmental changes in lung cancer. Angiogenesis is important for the development and growth of cancer and is mediated by angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor. However, the effects of mild PM2.5 exposure on angiogenesis in lung cancer remain unclear. In this study, we examined angiogenic effects using relatively lower concentrations of PM2.5 than in other studies and found that PM2.5 increased angiogenic activities in both endothelial cells and non-small cell lung carcinoma cells. PM2.5 also promoted the growth and angiogenesis of lung cancer via the induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) in a xenograft mouse tumor model. Angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were highly expressed in lung cancer patients in countries with high PM2.5 levels in the atmosphere, and high expression of VEGF in lung cancer patients lowered the survival rate. Collectively, these results provide new insight into the mechanisms by which mild exposure to PM2.5 is involved in HIF-1a-mediated angiogenesis in lung cancer patients.

Automated summary

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with worldwide public health problems, including epigenetic and microenvironmental changes in lung cancer. This study found that relatively lower concentrations of PM2.5 increased angiogenic activities in endothelial cells and non-small cell lung carcinoma cells, and induced the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) to promote the growth and angiogenesis of lung cancer in a mouse tumor model. Lung cancer patients in countries with high PM2.5 levels had high expression of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which led to a lower survival rate. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of HIF-1a-mediated angiogenesis in lung cancer patients exposed to mild PM2.5.