Open Access

Cadmium induces A549 cell migration and invasion by activating ERK

  • Authors:
    • Huijuan Zhai
    • Teng Pan
    • Haiyan Yang
    • Haiyu Wang
    • Yadong Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 8, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7750
  • Pages: 1793-1799
  • Copyright: © Zhai et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is an established carcinogen that is involved in the progression of lung cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying this Cd‑induced process have yet to be fully elucidated. The present study explored the potential roles of phosphorylated (p)‑ERK in the Cd‑induced migration and invasion of lung cancer cells. An MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell viability whilst western blot analysis and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of protein and mRNA, respectively. Migration and invasion assays were performed to assess cell migratory and invasive abilities. The results demonstrated that exposure to Cd increased the expression of p‑ERK in A549 cells. Cd also enhanced the migration and invasion of A549 cells, which could be blocked via U0126 treatment (an inhibitor of mitogen activated protein kinase). In addition, it was identified that Cd‑induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 mRNA was mediated by p‑ERK. In conclusion, the present findings indicated that Cd induced A549 cell migration and invasion by activating ERK, and it was hypothesized that p‑ERK could serve as a target in the clinical treatment of Cd‑induced lung cancer.
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September-2019
Volume 18 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhai H, Pan T, Yang H, Wang H and Wang Y: Cadmium induces A549 cell migration and invasion by activating ERK. Exp Ther Med 18: 1793-1799, 2019
APA
Zhai, H., Pan, T., Yang, H., Wang, H., & Wang, Y. (2019). Cadmium induces A549 cell migration and invasion by activating ERK. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 18, 1793-1799. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7750
MLA
Zhai, H., Pan, T., Yang, H., Wang, H., Wang, Y."Cadmium induces A549 cell migration and invasion by activating ERK". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 18.3 (2019): 1793-1799.
Chicago
Zhai, H., Pan, T., Yang, H., Wang, H., Wang, Y."Cadmium induces A549 cell migration and invasion by activating ERK". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 18, no. 3 (2019): 1793-1799. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7750