Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2025 April, 265(4)

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Regulate the Occurrence and Development of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Regulating Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

Zhicong Hong,^1,2,3 Qiaoling Guo,^1,2,3 Xianyang Luo^1,2,3 and Liying Liu⁴

¹Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
²Xiamen Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiamen, Fujian, China
³The Third Clinical Medicine College, School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
⁴Nursing Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has hidden onset, low rate of early diagnosis, and most of them have metastases at the time of diagnosis. The specific pathogenesis of NPC is still unclear. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of contaminants produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter and widespread in the air. Many of these compounds are mutagenic and carcinogenic. PAHs plays an important role in mutagenic and carcinogenic, while its role in NPC still needs further elucidation. In this study, CNE-2 cells were stimulated by PAHs, then the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and CYP1A2 were respectively examined using Real-Time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot. CNE-2 cells proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were examined by CCK-8, Wound-Healing Assay, Transwell, Flow Cytometry, respectively. We found that AhR expression was increased while the level of apoptosis was inhibited by PAHs. While the ability of cell invasion was weakened, proliferation and migration were not significantly different. After treated by PAHs and ITE, the effect of PAHs on promoting AhR expression was significantly inhibited and apoptosis was up-regulated. The present study found that, PAHs inhibit apoptosis of NPC cells and promote the expression of AhR. Besides, PAHs participates in NPC occurrence and development by regulating AhR expression. Collectively, these findings may provide a possible strategy for the clinical treatment of NPC.

Key words —— apoptosis; aryl hydrocarbon receptor; invasion; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

© 2025 Tohoku University Medical Press

===============================

Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2025 April, 265(4), 221-228.

Correspondence: Liying Liu, Nursing Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, Fujian province, People’s Republic of China.

e-mail: liuliying9@163.com

Correspondence: Xianyang Luo, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, Fujian province, People’s Republic of China.

e-mail: lxy701@126.com