PFOI stimulates the motility of T24 bladder cancer cells: Possible involvement and activation of lncRNA malat1

Perfluorinated iodine alkanes (PFIs) can serve as an important raw materials for the synthesis of various perfluorinated chemical products through telomerization reaction. The estrogenic effects of PFIs have been reported previously by some in vitro and in vivo screening assays. To explore the potential epigenetic toxicity of PFIs, activation of lncRNAs was screened, and the cell motility changes induced by perfluorooctyl iodide (PFOI) were analyzed in this study. High metastatic bladder cell line (T24) was used to investigate the cellular migration function affected by PFOI. PFOI exposure significantly induced the upregulation of lncRNA anril, thorlnc, hotairm1, meg3, and malat1. The migration and invasion of T24 cells were also enhanced upon PFOI exposure. The transcription level of matrix metalloenzyme genes, epidermal growth factors, cytoskeleton genes, and the upstream factors involved in cell motility pathways were examined to illustrate possible mechanisms. Additionally, the basic role of malat1 in cellular motility was investigated by lncRNA knockdown and migration assays. The knockdown of malat1 inhibited the cellular motility induced by PFOI. The levels of MMP-2/-9 genes were also down-regulated by the treatment of si-malat1. Overall, the perturbation of cytoskeleton genes (E-cadherin/N-cadherin) may account for the impact on the motility of T24 cells. Our studies indicate that perfluorinated chemicals might regulate the lncRNAs, thus promoting the metastasis of the tumor cells.