Polychlorinated biphenyl quinone induced the acquisition of cancer stem cells properties and epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Wnt/β-catenin.

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent industrial pollutants that have been linked to breast cancer progression. However, their molecular mechanism(s) are currently unclear. Our previous assessment suggested that the highly reactive PCB metabolite 2,3,5-trichloro-6-phenyl-[1,4]-benzoquinone (PCB29-pQ) induces the metastasis of breast cancer. Here, our data illustrate that PCB29-pQ increases cancer stem cell (CSC) marker expression, resulting in an increase in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells; further, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway also becomes activated by PCB29-pQ. When the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is inhibited, the promotion of CSC properties and EMT by PCB29-pQ were accordingly reversed. In addition, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated by PCB29-pQ plays a key role in Wnt/β-catenin activation. Collectively, our current data designated the regulatory role of Wnt/β-catenin in PCB29-pQ-triggered acquisition of CSC properties and EMT.

• Authors: Qi Qin, Bingwei Yang, Zixuan Liu, Lei Xu, Erqun Song, Yang Song
• Journal: Chemosphere (Chemosphere) Vol. 263 Pg. 128125 (Jan 2021) ISSN: 1879-1298 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33297114 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Benzoquinones
• Quinones
• beta Catenin
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Topics

• Benzoquinones (toxicity)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
• Neoplasms
• Neoplastic Stem Cells
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (toxicity)
• Quinones
• Wnt Signaling Pathway
• beta Catenin (genetics)