Chen Xu-Li, Xu Yan-Ming, Lau Andy T Y
Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, People's Republic of China.
Cancer Cell Int. 2022 Jul 27;22(1):237. doi: 10.1186/s12935-022-02638-3.
Epithelial cells can trans-differentiate into motile mesenchymal cells through a dynamic process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is crucial in embryonic development and wound healing but also contributes to human diseases such as organ fibrosis and cancer progression. Heavy metals are environmental pollutants that can affect human health in various ways, including causing cancers. The cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity of heavy metals are complex, and studies have demonstrated that some of these metals can affect the progress of EMT. Here, we focus on reviewing the roles of six environmentally common toxic metals concerning EMT: arsenic (AS), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu). Noteworthily, the effects of these elements on EMT may vary according to the form, dose, and exposure time; the dual role of heavy metals (e.g., AS, Cd, and Cu) on EMT is also observed, in which, sometimes they can promote while sometimes inhibit the EMT process. Given the vast number of toxicologically relevant metals that exist in nature, we believe a comprehensive understanding of their effects on EMT is required to dictate in what circumstances these metals act more likely as demons or angels.
上皮细胞可通过一种称为上皮-间质转化（EMT）的动态过程转分化为具有运动能力的间充质细胞。EMT在胚胎发育和伤口愈合中至关重要，但也与器官纤维化和癌症进展等人类疾病有关。重金属是环境污染物，可通过多种方式影响人类健康，包括引发癌症。重金属的细胞毒性和致癌性很复杂，研究表明其中一些金属会影响EMT的进程。在此，我们重点综述六种环境中常见的有毒金属在EMT中的作用：砷（AS）、镉（Cd）、钴（Co）、铬（Cr）、镍（Ni）和铜（Cu）。值得注意的是，这些元素对EMT的影响可能因形态、剂量和暴露时间而异；还观察到重金属（如AS、Cd和Cu）对EMT具有双重作用，有时它们可以促进EMT过程，而有时则会抑制该过程。鉴于自然界中存在大量与毒理学相关的金属，我们认为需要全面了解它们对EMT的影响，以确定在何种情况下这些金属更有可能扮演恶魔或天使的角色。
