Simulated Microgravity Influences Immunity-Related Biomarkers in Lung Cancer

Baghoum, Hend; Alahmed, Hend; Hachim, Mahmood; Senok, Abiola; Jalaleddine, Nour; Al Heialy, Saba

doi:10.3390/ijms24010155

Open AccessArticle

Simulated Microgravity Influences Immunity-Related Biomarkers in Lung Cancer

by

Hend Baghoum

^1,†,

Hend Alahmed

^1,†,

Mahmood Hachim

¹

,

Abiola Senok

¹

,

Nour Jalaleddine

^1,* and

Saba Al Heialy

^1,2,*

¹

College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates

²

Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC H3A 2T5, Canada

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010155

Submission received: 26 October 2022 / Revised: 28 November 2022 / Accepted: 8 December 2022 / Published: 21 December 2022

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)

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Abstract

Microgravity is a novel strategy that may serve as a complementary tool to develop future cancer therapies. In lung cancer, the influence of microgravity on cellular processes and the migratory capacity of cells is well addressed. However, its effect on the mechanisms that drive lung cancer progression remains in their infancy. In this study, 13 differentially expressed genes were shown to be associated with the prognosis of lung cancer under simulated microgravity (SMG). Using gene set enrichment analysis, these genes are enriched in humoral immunity pathways. In lieu, alveolar basal-epithelial (A549) cells were exposed to SMG via a 2D clinostat system in vitro. In addition to morphology change and decrease in proliferation rate, SMG reverted the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype of A549, a key mechanism in cancer progression. This was evidenced by increased epithelial E-cadherin expression and decreased mesenchymal N-cadherin expression, hence exhibiting a less metastatic state. Interestingly, we observed increased expression of FCGBP, BPIFB, F5, CST1, and CFB and their correlation to EMT under SMG, rendering them potential tumor suppressor biomarkers. Together, these findings reveal new opportunities to establish novel therapeutic strategies for lung cancer treatment.

Keywords: simulated microgravity; EMT; lung cancer; metastasis; tumor suppressor; biomarkers

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MDPI and ACS Style

Baghoum, H.; Alahmed, H.; Hachim, M.; Senok, A.; Jalaleddine, N.; Al Heialy, S. Simulated Microgravity Influences Immunity-Related Biomarkers in Lung Cancer. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 155. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010155

AMA Style

Baghoum H, Alahmed H, Hachim M, Senok A, Jalaleddine N, Al Heialy S. Simulated Microgravity Influences Immunity-Related Biomarkers in Lung Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(1):155. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010155

Chicago/Turabian Style

Baghoum, Hend, Hend Alahmed, Mahmood Hachim, Abiola Senok, Nour Jalaleddine, and Saba Al Heialy. 2023. "Simulated Microgravity Influences Immunity-Related Biomarkers in Lung Cancer" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24, no. 1: 155. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010155

APA Style

Baghoum, H., Alahmed, H., Hachim, M., Senok, A., Jalaleddine, N., & Al Heialy, S. (2023). Simulated Microgravity Influences Immunity-Related Biomarkers in Lung Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(1), 155. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010155

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Simulated Microgravity Influences Immunity-Related Biomarkers in Lung Cancer

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