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Characterization of Arsenic-Induced Cancer Stem-Like Cells

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Stem Cell Transcriptional Networks

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2117))

Abstract

Arsenic is a well-known human carcinogen. However, the mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced carcinogenesis remain elusive. Here we show that chronic and low level of arsenic stress induces transformation of the human bronchial epithelial cells, BEAS-2B, and that some of the transformed cells show characteristics of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). Meanwhile, we demonstrate that arsenic stress dedifferentiates CD61+ BEAS-2B cells into CSC-like CD61− cells featured with noncanonical epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), enhanced chemoresistance, and metastasis. Finally, we show that oncogene c-Myc expression is associated with arsenic-induced tumor initiation and progression. Altogether, our findings highlight a unique mechanism of arsenic-induced transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells and provide a novel therapeutic target for arsenic-initiated lung cancer.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH grants R01 ES028263, R01 ES028335, and P30 ES020957 to FC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Qingshan Chang, Zhuoyue Bi, Yao Fu, M’ Kya Anique Rice, Qian Zhang, Priya Wadgaonkar, Bandar Almutairy, Wenxian Zhang, Yongju Lu, Liping Xu, Chitra Thukar & Fei Chen

  2. School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China

    Zhuoyue Bi

  3. Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Toxicology, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, China

    Zhuoyue Bi

Authors
  1. Qingshan Chang
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  2. Zhuoyue Bi
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  3. Yao Fu
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  4. M’ Kya Anique Rice
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  5. Qian Zhang
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  6. Priya Wadgaonkar
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  7. Bandar Almutairy
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  8. Wenxian Zhang
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  9. Yongju Lu
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  10. Liping Xu
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  11. Chitra Thukar
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  12. Fei Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fei Chen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

    Benjamin L. Kidder

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Chang, Q. et al. (2020). Characterization of Arsenic-Induced Cancer Stem-Like Cells. In: Kidder, B. (eds) Stem Cell Transcriptional Networks. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2117. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0301-7_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0301-7_19

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0300-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0301-7

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