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Arsenic and Benzo[a]pyrene Co-exposure Effects on MDA-MB-231 Cell Viability and Migration

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Abstract

Although humans are frequently exposed to multiple pollutants simultaneously, research on their harmful effects on health has typically focused on studying each pollutant individually. Inorganic arsenic (As) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are well-known pollutants with carcinogenic potential, but their co-exposure effects on breast cancer cell progression remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to assess the combined impact of BaP and As on the viability and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. The results indicated that even at low levels, both inorganic As (0.01 μM, 0.1 μM, and 1 μM) and BaP (1 μM, 2.5 μM), individually or in combination, enhanced the viability and migration of the cells. However, the cell cycle analysis revealed no significant differences between the control group and the cells exposed to BaP and As. Specifically, exposure to BaP alone or in combination with As (As 0.01 μM + BaP 1 μM) for 24 h led to a significant increase in vimentin gene expression. Interestingly, short-term exposure to As not only did not induce EMT but also modulated the effects of BaP on vimentin gene expression. However, there were no observable changes in the expression of E-cadherin mRNA. Consequently, additional research is required to evaluate the prolonged effects of co-exposure to As and BaP on the initiation of EMT and the progression of breast cancer.

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No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors of this manuscript wish to express their appreciation to Tarbiat Modares University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

This work was supported by the Tarbiat Modares University grant to accomplish Ahmad Safari Maleki's M.Sc. thesis [Grant number 87424].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Ahmad Safari Maleki & Amir Shadboorestan

  2. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Ghahremani

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  1. Ahmad Safari Maleki
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Contributions

Amir Shadboorestan and Mohammad Hossein Ghahremani contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Ahmad Safari Maleki and Amir Shadboorestan. The manuscript has been written, revised, and approved by all authors involved.

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Correspondence to Amir Shadboorestan.

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Maleki, A.S., Ghahremani, M.H. & Shadboorestan, A. Arsenic and Benzo[a]pyrene Co-exposure Effects on MDA-MB-231 Cell Viability and Migration. Biol Trace Elem Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-024-04170-z

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