Upregulation of SQSTM1/p62 contributes to nickel-induced malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Chronic lung inflammation is accepted as being associated with the development of lung cancer caused by nickel exposure. Therefore, identifying the molecular mechanisms that lead to a nickel-induced sustained inflammatory microenvironment that causes transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells is of high significance. In the current studies, we identified SQSTM1/p62 as a novel nickel-upregulated protein that is important for nickel-induced inflammatory TNF expression, subsequently resulting in transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells. We found that nickel exposure induced SQSTM1 protein upregulation in human lung epithelial cells in vitro and in mouse lung tissues in vivo. The SQSTM1 upregulation was also observed in human lung squamous cell carcinoma. Further studies reve

SUBMITTER: Huang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5079680 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature