Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer
Environmental pollutants are closely linked to lung cancer. The different types of environmental pollutants can be classified as chemical, physical, and biological. The roles of common chemical and physical pollutants such as PM2.5, smoking, radon, asbestos, and formaldehyde in lung cancer have been...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/6/3081 |
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| author | Dongjie Wang Ben Chung-Lap Chan Bitian Zhang Katie Ching-Yau Wong Lea Ling-Yu Kan Chun-Kwok Wong |
| author_facet | Dongjie Wang Ben Chung-Lap Chan Bitian Zhang Katie Ching-Yau Wong Lea Ling-Yu Kan Chun-Kwok Wong |
| author_sort | Dongjie Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Environmental pollutants are closely linked to lung cancer. The different types of environmental pollutants can be classified as chemical, physical, and biological. The roles of common chemical and physical pollutants such as PM2.5, smoking, radon, asbestos, and formaldehyde in lung cancer have been extensively studied. Notably, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the strong link between biological pollution and human health. Allergens such as house dust mites and pollen, as well as bacteria and viruses, are common biological pollutants. A few biological pollutants have been reported to promote lung cancer via inducing inflammatory cytokines secretion, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β, as well as suppressing immunosurveillance by upregulating regulatory T (Treg) cells while dampening the function of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells and dendritic cells. However, the correlation between common biological hazards, such as SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency viruses, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and house dust mites, and lung cancer is not fully elucidated, and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Moreover, the majority of studies that have been performed in lung cancer and biological carcinogens were not based on the perspective of biological pollutants, which has challenged the systematicity and coherence in the field of biological pollutants in lung cancer. Here, in addition to reviewing the recent progress made in investigating the roles of allergens, viruses, and bacteria in lung cancer, we summarized the potential mechanisms underlying biological pollutants in lung cancer. Our narrative review can shed light on understanding the significance of biological pollutants in lung cancer, as well as inspire and broaden research ideas on lung cancer etiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:13:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc881a15687f4c2d8309dfc273009e0a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:13:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc881a15687f4c2d8309dfc273009e0a2024-03-27T13:44:58ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672024-03-01256308110.3390/ijms25063081Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung CancerDongjie Wang0Ben Chung-Lap Chan1Bitian Zhang2Katie Ching-Yau Wong3Lea Ling-Yu Kan4Chun-Kwok Wong5Institute of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaInstitute of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaInstitute of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, ChinaInstitute of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaInstitute of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaEnvironmental pollutants are closely linked to lung cancer. The different types of environmental pollutants can be classified as chemical, physical, and biological. The roles of common chemical and physical pollutants such as PM2.5, smoking, radon, asbestos, and formaldehyde in lung cancer have been extensively studied. Notably, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the strong link between biological pollution and human health. Allergens such as house dust mites and pollen, as well as bacteria and viruses, are common biological pollutants. A few biological pollutants have been reported to promote lung cancer via inducing inflammatory cytokines secretion, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β, as well as suppressing immunosurveillance by upregulating regulatory T (Treg) cells while dampening the function of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells and dendritic cells. However, the correlation between common biological hazards, such as SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency viruses, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and house dust mites, and lung cancer is not fully elucidated, and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Moreover, the majority of studies that have been performed in lung cancer and biological carcinogens were not based on the perspective of biological pollutants, which has challenged the systematicity and coherence in the field of biological pollutants in lung cancer. Here, in addition to reviewing the recent progress made in investigating the roles of allergens, viruses, and bacteria in lung cancer, we summarized the potential mechanisms underlying biological pollutants in lung cancer. Our narrative review can shed light on understanding the significance of biological pollutants in lung cancer, as well as inspire and broaden research ideas on lung cancer etiology.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/6/3081biological pollutantsvirusesbacteriaallergieschronic inflammation |
| spellingShingle | Dongjie Wang Ben Chung-Lap Chan Bitian Zhang Katie Ching-Yau Wong Lea Ling-Yu Kan Chun-Kwok Wong Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer International Journal of Molecular Sciences biological pollutants viruses bacteria allergies chronic inflammation |
| title | Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer |
| title_full | Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer |
| title_short | Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer |
| title_sort | dark under the lamp neglected biological pollutants in the environment are closely linked to lung cancer |
| topic | biological pollutants viruses bacteria allergies chronic inflammation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/6/3081 |
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