Deciphering Aflatoxin B1 affected critical molecular pathways governing cancer: A bioinformatics study using CTD and...

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent carcinogenic fungal toxin found in food.
• AFB1 exposure is linked to severe health issues, including hepatotoxicity and various cancers.
• The molecular pathways affected by AFB1 during cancer development are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify molecular pathways significantly altered by AFB1 exposure in five major cancer types.
• To pinpoint key genes that could serve as biomarkers for AFB1-induced cancers.
• To provide insights into AFB1's role in cancer initiation and progression.

Main Methods:

• Selected AFB1-responsive genes from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) for lung, colorectal, liver, stomach, and breast cancers.
• Utilized the PANTHER database for statistical overrepresentation tests to identify affected pathways.
• Performed gene analysis on identified pathways to find potential biomarker genes.

Main Results:

• Identified the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), CCKR signaling, and angiogenesis as significantly affected pathways in multiple cancers.
• AFB1 impacted apoptosis and Wnt signaling pathways in liver and stomach cancers, respectively.
• Wnt, CCKR, and GnRHR pathways were most affected in colorectal cancer.
• Thirteen key genes, including FOS and AKT1, were identified as potential biomarkers.

Conclusions:

• AFB1 significantly affects critical molecular pathways involved in cancer development across multiple cancer types.
• The identified key genes may serve as valuable biomarkers for AFB1-induced cancers and for in vitro toxicological studies.
• Further research into these pathways and genes can elucidate AFB1's carcinogenic mechanisms.