Bisphenol-A/Radiation mediated inflammatory response activates EGFR/KRAS/ERK1/2 signaling pathway leads to lung carcinogenesis incidence

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol (BPA) and ionizing radiation exposure (IR) are potent oxidants that cause free radical induction, leading to signaling pathway activation that alters cell growth. Due to the insufficient knowledge of the impact of BPA and IR on the lungs, the current study determined the impact of BPA and IR on the lung tissue of adult female Wistar rats. METHODS: Forty Wister female rats were used in this study and were randomly divided into four groups. The rats received BPA (150 mg/kg body weight/day for 6 weeks) and were exposed to IR at 2 Gy/week up to 12 Gy for 6 weeks. RESULTS: It was found that BPA and IR possess a harmful effect on the lungs via induction of oxidative stress, confirmed by increasing levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Exposure to BPA and IR activates inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, growth factors such as TGF-β, and gastrin-releasing peptides. BPA/IR exposures induced phosphorylated expression p-ERK1/2 and p-MEK1/2 associated with triggering of the GPER/EGFR/KRAS signaling factors, resulting in matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9 overexpression and the development of lung tumors. Our findings support the causal role of two deleterious environmental pollutants BPA and IR, via the cytotoxicity in the respiratory system in the form of severe lung damage resulting in cancerous cells.