Abnormal expression of c-Myc in human bronchial epithelial cells malignantly transformed by anti-BPDE

Abstract

Anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (anti-BPDE) is a metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and acts as a potent mutagen in mammalian systems. However, molecular mechanisms related to anti-BPDE-induced carcinogenesis are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the expression of proto-oncogene c-myc in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE-T) transformed by exposure to anti-BPDE. The levels of mRNA and protein of c-Myc were examined in the 16HBE-T and vehicle-treated control cells (16HBE-N) by using different methods respectively, including reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR), western blot and immunocytochemical methods. The level of c-myc mRNA appeared to be significantly increased in 16HBE-T, as compared with those of the 16HBE-N. Likewise, the expression of c-Myc protein was significantly enhanced as compared with those of the control cells. Moreover, the localization of c-Myc protein shows mainly nuclear staining in 16HBE-T. In conclusion, the abnormal expression of c-Myc was present in anti-BPDE malignantly transformed 16HBE cells, which may be involved in the carcinogenesis molecular mechanism of anti-BPDE.

Keywords

anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide-deoxyguanosine / transformed cell / c-Myc proteins / carcinogenesis