Abstract
BackgroundBoth SOX2 promoter methylation and air pollution have been associated with lung cancer risk. However, little has been done to assess SOX2 promoter methylation in individuals living in air pollution areas. The aim of this study was to investigate SOX2 promoter methylation in non-smoking Taiwanese adults living in areas with different levels of air pollution especially particulate matter with diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5).MethodsA total of 1142 individuals aged 30–70 years were recruited. Data on SOX2 methylation, residence, age, and exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) among others were extracted from the Taiwan Biobank dataset (2008–2015). After excluding former and current smokers, alongside those with incomplete information, a total of 461 non-smokers comprising 176 men and 285 women were included in the study. Participants’ residences were grouped under northern and central/southern areas because air pollution (PM2.5) is lower in northern compared to central and southern areas.ResultsThe methylation levels in men (0.16310 ± 0.01230) and women (0.15740 ± 0.01240) were significantly different (P < .0001). In both sexes, the SOX2 promoter region was shown to be significantly hypermethylated in central and southern areas compared with the northern areas. The regression coefficient (β) was 0.00331 (P = 0.0257) in men and 0.00514 (P < .0001) in women.ConclusionSOX2 was significantly hypermethylated in both men and women residing in central and southern areas. The consistency in the results for both sexes shows that SOX2 promoter methylation could serve as a potential biomarker for industrial air pollution exposure. Moreover, it might reflect predisposition to cancer. Hence, healthy non-smokers at precancerous stages who have not been clinically diagnosed could be identified.
Highlights
Both SOX2 promoter methylation and air pollution have been associated with lung cancer risk
After adjusting for age, exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS), exercise, drinking, body fat, Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), asthma, and emphysema, SOX2 promoter methylation was significantly hypermethylated in both men and women residing in central and southern areas compared with the northern
The consistent hypermethylation in both sexes implies that SOX2 promoter methylation could be a potential biomarker for industrial air pollution exposure
Summary
Both SOX2 promoter methylation and air pollution have been associated with lung cancer risk. The aim of this study was to investigate SOX2 promoter methylation in non-smoking Taiwanese adults living in areas with different levels of air pollution especially particulate matter with diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5). In Taiwan, it was ranked the second incident cancer in 2014 and the top cause of mortality in 2016 [8]. It is classified into small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [7].
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