Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes in non-small-cell lung cancer reveals differences between smokers and nonsmokers

David Chi Leung Lam, Luc Girard, Ruben Ramirez, Wing Shun Chau, Wai Sing Suen, Shelley Sheridan, Vicky P C Tin, Lap Ping Chung, Maria P. Wong, Jerry W. Shay, Adi F. Gazdar, Wah Kit Lam, John D. Minna

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

193 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nicotine and its derivatives, by binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) on bronchial epithelial cells, can regulate cellular proliferation and apoptosis via activating the Akt pathway. Delineation of nAChR subtypes in non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC) may provide information for prevention or therapeutic targeting. Expression of nAChR subunit genes in 66 resected primary NSCLCs, 7 histologically non-involved lung tissues, 13 NSCLC cell lines, and 6 human bronchial epithelial cell lines (HBEC) was analyzed with quantitative PCR and microarray analysis. Five nonmalignant HBECs were exposed to nicotine in vitro to study the variation of nAChR subunit gene expression with nicotine exposure and removal. NSCLCs from nonsmokers showed higher expression of nAChR α6 (P < 0.001) and β3 (P = 0.007) subunit genes than those from smokers, adjusted for gender. In addition, nAChR α4 (P < 0.001) and β4 (P = 0.029) subunit gene expression showed significant difference between NSCLCs and normal lung. Using Affymetrix GeneChip U133 Sets, 65 differentially expressed genes associated with NSCLC nonsmoking nAChR α6β3 phenotype were identified, which gave high sensitivity and specificity of prediction. nAChR α1, α5, and α7 showed significant reversible changes in expression levels in HBECs upon nicotine exposure. We conclude that between NSCLCs from smokers and nonsmokers, different nAChR subunit gene expression patterns were found, and a 65-gene expression signature was associated with nonsmoking nAChR α633 expression. Finally, nicotine exposure in HBECs resulted in reversible differences in nAChR subunit gene expression. These results further implicate nicotine in bronchial carcinogenesis and suggest targeting nAChRs for prevention and therapy in lung cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4638-4647
Number of pages10
JournalCancer research
Volume67
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - May 15 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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