Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial Cells

Chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water can induce bladder cancer in humans. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about the precise mechanisms of this. Abnormal elevations in cell proliferation and migration have repeatedly been identified as the first cellular traits of carcinogenesis. Th...

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Main Authors: Xiangli Yan, Qing Zhou, Shuhua Xi, Peiyu Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/912
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author Xiangli Yan
Qing Zhou
Shuhua Xi
Peiyu Jin
author_facet Xiangli Yan
Qing Zhou
Shuhua Xi
Peiyu Jin
author_sort Xiangli Yan
collection DOAJ
description Chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water can induce bladder cancer in humans. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about the precise mechanisms of this. Abnormal elevations in cell proliferation and migration have repeatedly been identified as the first cellular traits of carcinogenesis. The aims of this study are to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced aberrant proliferation and migration of uroepithelium cells by exploring the role of cellular redox modulation. Our results show significant elevations in the levels of ROS and GSH, Trx1, components of the Nrf2 system, and NLRP3 inflammasome activity in the cells chronically treated with arsenite, which also experienced markedly enhanced proliferation and migration capacities. Additionally, ROS inhibitors, NLRP3, and the above antioxidant system could suppress this enhancement of the proliferation and migration capacities and reverse overexpression in these cells. However, only the AKT and ERK inhibitors were capable of reversing EGF, TGFα, and HSP90 overexpression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the cellular redox status in the uroepithelium following chronic treatment with low-level arsenite was rebalanced due to ROS overproduction and compensatory upregulation of the redox control systems, which may allow ROS and Trx1 to be maintained at higher levels to facilitate cell proliferation and migration via overstimulation of the related signaling pathways.
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spelling doaj-art-711681fc78474272b078472e8aaf22e72025-08-20T03:26:20ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-06-01141291210.3390/cells14120912Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial CellsXiangli Yan0Qing Zhou1Shuhua Xi2Peiyu Jin3Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, ChinaChronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water can induce bladder cancer in humans. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about the precise mechanisms of this. Abnormal elevations in cell proliferation and migration have repeatedly been identified as the first cellular traits of carcinogenesis. The aims of this study are to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced aberrant proliferation and migration of uroepithelium cells by exploring the role of cellular redox modulation. Our results show significant elevations in the levels of ROS and GSH, Trx1, components of the Nrf2 system, and NLRP3 inflammasome activity in the cells chronically treated with arsenite, which also experienced markedly enhanced proliferation and migration capacities. Additionally, ROS inhibitors, NLRP3, and the above antioxidant system could suppress this enhancement of the proliferation and migration capacities and reverse overexpression in these cells. However, only the AKT and ERK inhibitors were capable of reversing EGF, TGFα, and HSP90 overexpression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the cellular redox status in the uroepithelium following chronic treatment with low-level arsenite was rebalanced due to ROS overproduction and compensatory upregulation of the redox control systems, which may allow ROS and Trx1 to be maintained at higher levels to facilitate cell proliferation and migration via overstimulation of the related signaling pathways.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/912arseniteurothelial cellsredox balancethioredoxin systemglutathione system
spellingShingle Xiangli Yan
Qing Zhou
Shuhua Xi
Peiyu Jin
Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial Cells
Cells
arsenite
urothelial cells
redox balance
thioredoxin system
glutathione system
title Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial Cells
title_full Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial Cells
title_fullStr Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial Cells
title_full_unstemmed Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial Cells
title_short Long-Term Treatment with Low-Level Arsenite Induces Aberrant Proliferation and Migration via Redox Rebalance in Human Urothelial Cells
title_sort long term treatment with low level arsenite induces aberrant proliferation and migration via redox rebalance in human urothelial cells
topic arsenite
urothelial cells
redox balance
thioredoxin system
glutathione system
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/912
work_keys_str_mv AT xiangliyan longtermtreatmentwithlowlevelarseniteinducesaberrantproliferationandmigrationviaredoxrebalanceinhumanurothelialcells
AT qingzhou longtermtreatmentwithlowlevelarseniteinducesaberrantproliferationandmigrationviaredoxrebalanceinhumanurothelialcells
AT shuhuaxi longtermtreatmentwithlowlevelarseniteinducesaberrantproliferationandmigrationviaredoxrebalanceinhumanurothelialcells
AT peiyujin longtermtreatmentwithlowlevelarseniteinducesaberrantproliferationandmigrationviaredoxrebalanceinhumanurothelialcells