Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: potential and prospects

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced from various pyrogenic and petrogenic sources in the environment has been linked to a variety of toxic effects in the human body. Genome-wide analyses have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) can function as novel and minimally invasive biomarkers of environmental exposure to PAHs. The objective of this study is to explore miRNA signatures associated with early health effects in response to chronic environmental exposure to PAHs. We systematically searched Scopus and PubMed databases for studies related to exposure of PAHs with changes in miRNA expression patterns that represent early health effects in the exposed population. Based on previous studies, we included 15 cell-based and 9 each of animal model and human population-based studies for assessment. A total of 11 differentially expressed PAH-responsive miRNAs were observed each in two or more cell-based studies (miR-181a and miR-30c-1), animal model studies (miR-291a and miR-292), and human population-based studies (miR-126, miR-142-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-27a-3p, miR-28-5p, and miR-320b). In addition, miRNAs belonging to family miR-122, miR-199, miR-203, miR-21, miR-26, miR-29, and miR-92 were found to be PAH-responsive in both animal model and cell-based studies; let-7, miR-126, miR-146, miR-30, and miR-320 in both cell-based and human population-based studies; and miR-142, miR-150, and miR-27 were found differentially expressed in both animal model and human population-based studies. The only miRNA whose expression was found to be altered in all the three groups of studies is miR-34c. Association of environmental exposure to PAHs with altered expression of specific miRNAs indicates that selective miRNAs can be used as early warning biomarkers in PAH-exposed population.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data and materials are available in the manuscript.

References

  • Abdel-Shafy HI, Mansour MS (2016) A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: source, environmental impact, effect on human health and remediation. Egypt J Pet 25(1):107–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahirwar R, Tripathi AK (2021) E-waste management: a review of recycling process environmental and occupational health hazards and potential solutions. Environ Nanotechnol Monit Manag 5:100409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2020.100409

  • Alhamdow A, Lindh C, Albin M, Gustavsson P, Tinnerberg H, Broberg K (2017) Early markers of cardiovascular disease are associated with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Sci Rep 7:9426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong B, Hutchinson E, Unwin J, Fletcher T (2004) Lung cancer risk after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review and meta-analysis. Environ Health Perspect 112(9):970–978

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barkley LR, Santocanale C (2013) MicroRNA-29a regulates the benzo [a] pyrene dihydrodiol epoxide-induced DNA damage response through Cdc7 kinase in lung cancer cells. Oncogenesis. 2(7):e57–e57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berezikov E (2011) Evolution of microRNA diversity and regulation in animals. Nat Rev Genet 12(12):846–860

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolden AL, Rochester JR, Schultz K, Kwiatkowski CF (2017) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and female reproductive health: a scoping review. Reprod Toxicol 73:61–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bostrom CE, Gerde P, Hanberg A, Jernström B, Johansson C, Kyrklund T, Rannug A, Törnqvist M, Victorin K, Westerholm R (2002) Cancer risk assessment, indicators, and guidelines for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ambient air. Environ Health Perspect 110(suppl 3):451–488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burchiel SW, Gao J (2014) In: Vohr H-W (ed) “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the immune system,” in Encyclopedia Immunotoxicology. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Burchiel SW, Luster MI (2001) Signaling by environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human lymphocytes. Clin Immunol 98(1):2–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caiment F, Gaj S, Claessen S, Kleinjans J (2015) High-throughput data integration of RNA–miRNA–circRNA reveals novel insights into mechanisms of benzo [a] pyrene-induced carcinogenicity. Nucleic Acids Res 43(5):2525–2534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chanyshev MD, Kosorotikov NI, Titov SE, Kolesnikov NN, Gulyaeva LF (2014) Expression of microRNAs, CYP1A1 and CYP2B1 in the livers and ovaries of female rats treated with DDT and PAHs. Life Sci 103(2):95–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chanyshev MD, Ushakov DS, Gulyaeva LF (2017) Expression of miR-21 and its Acat1, Armcx1, and Pten target genes in liver of female rats treated with DDT and benzo [a] pyrene. Mol Biol 51(4):586–591

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chanyshev MD, Koval OA, Nushtaeva AA, Gulyaeva LF (2019) Effect of benzo [a] pyrene on the expression of miR-126, miR-190a and their target genes EGFL7, TP53INP1 and PHLPP1 in primary endometrial cells. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 33(6):22314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CZ, Li L, Lodish HF, Bartel DP (2004) MicroRNAs modulate hematopoietic lineage differentiation. Science. 303(5654):83–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Hu C, Pan P (2017) Extracellular vesicle microRNA transfer in lung diseases. Front Physiol 8:1028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng AM, Byrom MW, Shelton J, Ford LP (2005) Antisense inhibition of human miRNAs and indications for an involvement of miRNA in cell growth and apoptosis. Nucleic Acids Res 33(4):1290–1297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi H, Harrison R, Komulainen H, Saborit JMD (2010) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: selected pollutants. World Health Organization, Geneva

  • Deng Q, Dai X, Guo H, Huang S, Kuang D, Feng J, Wang T, Zhang W, Huang K, Hu D, Deng H (2014a) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-associated microRNAs and their interactions with the environment: influences on oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in coke oven workers. Environ Sci Technol 48(7):4120–4128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng Q, Huang S, Zhang X, Zhang W, Feng J, Wang T, Hu D, Guan L, Li J, Dai X, Deng H (2014b) Plasma microRNA expression and micronuclei frequency in workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Health Perspect 122(7):719–725

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng Q, Guo H, Deng N, Zhang W, Li X, Deng H, Xiao Y (2016) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure, miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism, and heart rate variability in coke oven workers. Environ Res 148:277–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng Q, Dai X, Feng W, Huang S, Yuan Y, Xiao Y, Zhang Z, Deng N, Deng H, Zhang X, Kuang D (2019) Co-exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, microRNA expression, and early health damage in coke oven workers. Environ Int 122:369–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan H, Jiang Y, Zhang H, Wu Y (2010) MiR-320 and miR-494 affect cell cycles of primary murine bronchial epithelial cells exposed to benzo [a] pyrene. Toxicol in Vitro 24(3):928–935

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan X, Yang Y, Zhang H, Liu B, Wei W, Wang L, Sun C, Yao W, Cui L, Zhou X, Wang W (2020a) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure, miRNA genetic variations, and associated leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number: a cross-sectional study in China. Chemosphere. 246:125773

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan X, Zhang D, Wang S, Feng X, Wang T, Wang P, Ding M, Zhang H, Liu B, Wei W, Acquaye RM, Yao W, Cui L, Zhou X, Wang W, Yang Y (2020b) Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and miRNA variations on peripheral blood leukocyte DNA telomere length: a cross-sectional study in Henan Province. China Sci Total Environ 703:135600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards SC, Jedrychowski W, Butscher M, Camann D, Kieltyka A, Mroz E, Flak E, Li Z, Wang S, Rauh V, Perera F (2010) Prenatal exposure to airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and children’s intelligence at 5 years of age in a prospective cohort study in Poland. Environ Health Perspect 118(9):1326–1331

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao T, Furnari F, Newton AC (2005) PHLPP: a phosphatase that directly dephosphorylates Akt, promotes apoptosis, and suppresses tumor growth. Mol Cell 18(1):13–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godschalk RW, Van Schooten FJ, Bartsch H (2003) A critical evaluation of DNA adducts as biological markers for human exposure to polycyclic aromatic compounds. J Biochem Mol Biol 36:1–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon MW, Yan F, Zhong X, Mazumder PB, Xu-Monette ZY, Zou D, Young KH, Ramos KS, Li Y (2015) Regulation of p53-targeting microRNAs by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: implications in the etiology of multiple myeloma. Mol Carcinog 54(10):1060–1069

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halappanavar S, Wu D, Williams A, Kuo B, Godschalk RW, Van Schooten FJ, Yauk CL (2011) Pulmonary gene and microRNA expression changes in mice exposed to benzo (a) pyrene by oral gavage. Toxicology. 285(3):133–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han Z, Zhang Y, Xu Y, Ji J, Xu W, Zhao Y, Luo F, Wang B, Bian Q, Liu Q (2014) Cell cycle changes mediated by the p53/miR-34c axis are involved in the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells by benzo [a] pyrene. Toxicol Lett 225(2):275–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holme JA, Brinchmann BC, Refsnes M, Låg M, Øvrevik J (2019) Potential role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as mediators of cardiovascular effects from combustion particles. Environ Health 18(1):1–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hong X, Qin J, Chen R, Yuan L, Zha J, Huang C, Li N, Ji X, Wang Z (2017) Phenanthrene-induced apoptosis and its underlying mechanism. Environ Sci Technol 51(24):14397–14405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang H, Pan X, Jin H, Li Y, Zhang L, Yang C, Liu P, Liu Y, Chen L, Li J, Zhu J (2015) PHLPP2 downregulation contributes to lung carcinogenesis following B[a] P/B [a] PDE exposure. Clin Cancer Res 21(16):3783–3793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang S, Deng Q, Feng J, Zhang X, Dai X, Li L, Yang B, Wu T, Cheng J (2016) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons–associated micrornas and heart rate variability in coke oven workers. J Occup Environ Med 58(1):e24–e31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (2010) Some non-heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some related exposures. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum 92:765–771

    Google Scholar 

  • Izzotti A, Pulliero A (2014) The effects of environmental chemical carcinogens on the microRNA machinery. Int J Hyg Environ Health 217(6):601–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jardim MJ, Fry RC, Jaspers I, Dailey L, Diaz-Sanchez D (2009) Disruption of microRNA expression in human airway cells by diesel exhaust particles is linked to tumorigenesis-associated pathways. Environ Health Perspect 117(11):1745–1751

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KH, Jahan SA, Kabir E, Brown RJ (2013) A review of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their human health effects. Environ Int 60:71–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H-Y, Kim H-R, Kang M-G, Trang NTD, Baek H-J, Moon J-D, Shin J-H, Suh S-P, Ryang D-W, Kook H, Shin M-G (2014) Profiling of biomarkers for the exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: lamin-A/C isoform 3, poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase 1, and mitochondria copy number are identified as universal biomarkers. BioMed Res Int 2014:605135. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/605135

  • Kirsch-Volders M, Bonassi S, Knasmueller S, Holland N, Bolognesi C, Fenech MF (2014) Commentary: critical questions, misconceptions and a road map for improving the use of the lymphocyte cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay for in vivo biomonitoring of human exposure to genotoxic chemicals—a HUMN project perspective. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res 759:49–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuang D, Zhang W, Deng Q, Zhang X, Huang K, Guan L, Hu D, Wu T, Guo H (2013) Dose-response relationships of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and oxidative damage to DNA and lipid in coke oven workers. Environ Sci Technol 47(13):7446–7456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawal AT (2017) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A review. Cogent Environ Sci 3(1):1339841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leachi HFL, Marziale MHP, Martins JT, Aroni P, Galdino MJQ, Ribeiro RP (2020) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and development of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in workers. Rev Bras Enferm 73(3):e20180965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee Y, Jeon K, Lee JT, Kim S, Kim VN (2002) MicroRNA maturation: stepwise processing and subcellular localization. EMBO J 21(17):4663–4670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li D, Wang Q, Liu C, Duan H, Zeng X, Zhang B, Li X, Zhao J, Tang S, Li Z, Xing X, Yang P, Chen L, Zeng J, Zhu X, Zhang S, Zhang Z, Ma L, He Z et al (2012a) Aberrant expression of miR-638 contributes to benzo(a)pyrene-induced human cell transformation. Toxicol Sci 125:382–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Feng Y, Deng H, Zhang W, Kuang D, Deng Q, Dai X, Lin D, Huang S, Xin L, He Y (2012c) The dose–response decrease in heart rate variability: any association with the metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coke oven workers? PLoS One 7(9):44562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li D, Liu C, Yu H, Zeng X, Xing X, Chen L, Gao C, Zhang Z, Xiao Y, Duan H, Zheng Y (2014) AhR is negatively regulated by miR-203 in response to TCDD or BaP treatment. Toxicol Res 3(2):142–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Wang AY, Xu QG, Liu DY, Xu PX, Yu D (2015) In-vitro inhibitory effect of EGFL7-RNAi on endothelial angiogenesis in glioma. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 8(10):12234–12242

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lizarraga D, Gaj S, Brauers KJ, Timmermans L, Kleinjans JC, van Delft JH (2012) Benzo [a] pyrene-induced changes in MicroRNA–mRNA networks. Chem Res Toxicol 25(4):838–849

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malik AI, Rowan-Carroll A, Williams A, Lemieux CL, Long AS, Arlt VM, Phillips DH, White PA, Yauk CL (2013) Hepatic genotoxicity and toxicogenomic responses in Muta™ Mouse males treated with dibenz [a, h] anthracene. Mutagenesis. 28(5):543–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malik DE, David RM, Gooderham NJ (2018) Mechanistic evidence that benzo[a]pyrene promotes an inflammatory microenvironment that drives the metastatic potential of human mammary cells. Arch Toxicol 92:3223–3239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marriset CR, Kompella SN, Miller MR, Incardona JP, Brette F, Hancox JC, Sørhus E, Shiels HA (2020) Polyaromatic hydrocarbons in pollution: a heart-breaking matter. Rev Bras Enferm 598(2):227–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Moorthy B, Chu C, Carlin DJ (2015) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: from metabolism to lung cancer. Toxicol Sci 145(1):5–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pavanello S, Campisi M, Mastrangelo G, Hoxha M, Bollati V (2020) The effects of everyday-life exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on biological age indicators. Environ Health 19(1):1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng Y, Croce CM (2016) The role of MicroRNAs in human cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 1(1):1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng R-H, Xiong A-S, Xue Y, Fu X-Y, Gao F, Zhao W, Tian Y-S, Yao Q-H (2008) Microbial biodegradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. FEMS Microbiol Rev 32:927–955

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perera F, Tang D, Whyatt R, Lederman SA, Jedrychowski W (2005) DNA damage from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons measured by benzo [a] pyrene-DNA adducts in mothers and newborns from Northern Manhattan, the World Trade Center Area, Poland, and China. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 14(3):709–714

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pogribny IP (2019) Environmental exposures and epigenetic perturbations. In: Boffetta P, Hainaut P (eds) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd ed. Academic Press, pp 574–584.  https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.65062-6

  • Poursafa P, Moosazadeh M, Abedini E, Hajizadeh Y, Mansourian M, Pourzamani H, Amin MM (2017) A systematic review on the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on cardiometabolic impairment. Int J Prev Med 8:19–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh A, Archibong AE, Niaz MS (2010) Ovarian susceptibility to benzo [a] pyrene: tissue burden of metabolites and DNA adducts in F-344 rats. J Toxicol Environ Health A 73(23):1611–1625

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rengarajan T, Rajendran P, Nandakumar N, Lokeshkumar B, Rajendran P, Nishigaki I (2015) Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with special focus on cancer. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 5(3):182–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2020.100409

  • Ruiz-Vera T, Ochoa-Martínez ÁC, Pruneda-Álvarez LG, Domínguez-Cortinas G, Pérez-Maldonado IN (2019) Expression levels of circulating microRNAs-126, -155, and -145 in Mexican women exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through biomass fuel use. Environ Mol Mutagen 60:546–558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahoo BM, Ravi Kumar BV, Banik BK, Borah P (2020) Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): structures, synthesis and their biological profile. Curr Org Synth 17(8):625–640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schembri F, Sridhar S, Perdomo C, Gustafson AM, Zhang X, Ergun A, Lu J, Liu G, Zhang X, Bowers J, Vaziri C (2009) MicroRNAs as modulators of smoking-induced gene expression changes in human airway epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106(7):2319–2324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarzenbach H, Nishida N, Calin GA, Pantel K (2014) Clinical relevance of circulating cell-free microRNAs in cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 11(3):145–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seemann F, Jeong CB, Zhang G, Wan MT, Guo B, Peterson DR, Lee JS, Au DWT (2017) Ancestral benzo [a] pyrene exposure affects bone integrity in F3 adult fish (Oryzias latipes). Aquat Toxicol 183:127–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sisto R, Capone P, Cerini L, Sanjust F, Paci E, Pigini D, Gatto MP, Gherardi M, Gordiani A, L’Episcopo N, Tranfo G (2019) Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers of occupational exposure to low dose organic solvents. Toxicol Rep 6:126–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song MK, Song M, Choi HS, Ryu JC (2012) Benzo [k] fluoranthene-induced changes in miRNA-mRNA interactions in human hepatocytes. J Toxicol Environ Health Sci 4(3):143–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song MK, Park YK, Ryu JC (2013) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-mediated upregulation of hepatic microRNA-181 family promotes cancer cell migration by targeting MAPK phosphatase-5, regulating the activation of p38 MAPK. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 273(1):130–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian Z, Wang R, Zhang X, Deng B, Mi C, Liang T, Ling Y, Li H, Zhang H (2018) Benzo [a] pyrene-7, 8-diol-9, 10-epoxide suppresses the migration and invasion of human extravillous trophoblast Swan 71 cells due to the inhibited filopodia formation and down-regulated PI3K/AKT/CDC42/PAK1 pathway mediated by the increased miR-194-3p. Toxicol Sci 166:25–38

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari P, Gupta KP (2014) Modulation of miR-203 and its regulators as a function of time during the development of 7, 12 dimethylbenz [a] anthracene induced mouse skin tumors in presence or absence of the antitumor agents. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 278:148–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomasini R, Seux M, Nowak J, Bontemps C, Carrier A, Dagorn JC, Pébusque MJ, Iovanna JL, Dusetti NJ (2005) TP53INP1 is a novel p73 target gene that induces cell cycle arrest and cell death by modulating p73 transcriptional activity. Oncogene. 24(55):8093–8104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tong R, Yang X, Su H, Pan Y, Zhang Q, Wang J, Long M (2018) Levels, sources and probabilistic health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the agricultural soils from sites neighboring suburban industries in Shanghai. Sci Total Environ 616:1365–1373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US-EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) (2008) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) — EPA fact sheet. National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogelstein B, Lane D, Levine AJ (2000) Surfing the p53 network. Nature. 408(6810):307–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weiland M, Gao XH, Zhou L, Mi QS (2012) Small RNAs have a large impact: circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for human diseases. RNA Biol 9(6):850–859

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu F, Yang LY, Li YF, Ou DP, Chen DP, Fan C (2009) Novel role for epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 in metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 50(6):1839–1850

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu H, Huang C, Taki FA, Zhang Y, Dobbins DL, Li L, Yan H, Pan X (2015) Benzo-α-pyrene induced oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans and the potential involvements of microRNA. Chemosphere. 139:496–503

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu M, Liang G, Duan H, Yang X, Qin G, Sang N (2019) Synergistic effects of sulfur dioxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on pulmonary pro-fibrosis via mir-30c-1-3p/transforming growth factor β type II receptor axis. Chemosphere. 219:268–276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang B, Deng Q, Zhang W, Feng Y, Dai X, Feng W, He X, Huang S, Zhang X, Li X, Lin D, He M, Guo H, Sun H, Yuan J, Lu J, Hu FB, Zhang X, Wu T (2016) Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plasma cytokines and heart rate variability. Sci Rep 6:19272

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang P, Chen D, Wang YX, Zhang L, Huang LL, Lu WQ, Zeng Q (2020) Mediation of association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and semen quality by spermatogenesis-related microRNAs: a pilot study in an infertility clinic. J Hazard Mater 384:121431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo J, Brewer DS, Arlt VM, Cooper CS, Phillips DH (2014) Benzo pyrene-induced DNA adducts and gene expression profiles in target and non-target organs for carcinogenesis in mice. BMC Genomics 15(1):1–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Research work in the laboratory of the corresponding author is supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (Grant Number 65/2/AKT/NIREH/2018-NCD-II).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Amit K. Tripathi

    Present address: Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110003, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Biochemistry, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, 462030, India

    Rupa Rani, Abhidha Kela, Kamini Arya & Rajesh Ahirwar

  2. Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India

    Geeta Dhaniya

  3. Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, 462030, India

    Amit K. Tripathi

Authors
  1. Rupa Rani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abhidha Kela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Geeta Dhaniya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kamini Arya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Amit K. Tripathi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Rajesh Ahirwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

RA conceptualized the study, took part in data curation, and finalized the manuscript. AKT participated in data curation and interpretation and reviewed the manuscript. RR participated in data curation and manuscript drafting. GD, AK, and KA helped in interpretation of the data and reviewing and editing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajesh Ahirwar.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Lotfi Aleya

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Highlights

• Differentially expressed miRNAs in cells, animal, and human studies were reviewed.

• Association of miRNA alteration, PAH exposure, and resulting adverse health effects is assessed.

• Common miRNA signatures among cells, animal, and human studies are identified.

Supplementary information

ESM 1

(DOCX 24 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rani, ., Kela, A., Dhaniya, G. et al. Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: potential and prospects. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 54282–54298 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15810-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15810-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation