Using a human bronchial epithelial cell-based malignant transformation model to explore the function of hsa-miR-200 family in the progress of PM-induced lung cancer development.

Numerous studies have revealed that ambient long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is significantly related to the development of lung cancer, but the molecular mechanisms of PM exposure-induced lung cancer remains unknown. As an important epigenetic regulator, microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in responding to environment exposure and various diseases including lung cancer development. Here we constructed a PM-induced malignant transformed cell model and found that miR-200 family, especially miR-200a-3p, was involved in the process of PM induced lung cancer. Further investigation of the function of miR-200 family (miR-200a-3p as a representative revealed that miR-200a-3p promoted cell migration by directly suppressing TNS3 expression. These results suggested that ambient PM exposure may increase the expression of miR-200 family and then promote the proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells. Our study provided novel model and insights into the molecular mechanism of ambient PM exposure-induced lung cancer.