FERMT3 Mediates Cigarette Smoke-induced Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Through Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Abstract

Background: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential pathophysiological process in COPD and plays an important role in airway remodeling, fibrosis, and malignant transformation of COPD. Previous studies have indicated FERMT3 is downregulated and plays a tumor suppressive role in lung cancer. However, the role of FERMT3 in COPD, including EMT, has not yet been investigated. Methods: The present study aimed to explore the potential role of FERMT3 in COPD and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Two GEO datasets were combined to identify FERMT3 involved in COPD. The expression of FERMT3 was identified in COPD from two GEO datasets. We then established EMT animal models and cell models through cigarette smoke (CS) or cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure to detect the expression of FERMT3 and EMT markers. RT-PCR, western blot, immunohistochemical, cell migration, and cell cycle were employed to investigate the potential regulatory effect of FERMT3 in CSE-induced EMT. Results: Based on the GEO dataset analysis, the expression of FERMT3 was downregulated in COPD-smoker bronchoalveolar lavage fluid than that in Non-smoker. Cigarette smoke exposure reduced the FERMT3 expression and induces EMT both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that overexpression of FERMT3 could inhibit EMT induced by CSE in A549 cells. Furthermore, the CSE-induced cell migration and cell cycle progression were reversed by FERMT3 overexpression. Mechanistically, our study showed that overexpression of FERMT3 inhibited CSE-induced EMT through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusions: In summary, these data suggest FERMT3 regulates cigarette smoke-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Wnt/β-Catenin signaling. These findings indicated that FERMT3 was correlated with the development of COPD and may serve as a potential target for both COPD and lung cancer.