Two Lung Cancer Development-Related Genes, Forkhead Box M1 (FOXM1) and Apolipoprotein E (APOE), are overexpressed in Bronchial of Patients after Long-Term Exposure to Sulfur Mustard

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a strong alkylating and mutagenic compound that targets humanairway system. We considered the expression of Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and apolipoproteinE (APOE) genes, which are responsible for cell proliferation, differentiation, tumorigenesis,and increased risk of lung cancer, in the lung bronchial tissue of patients exposed to SM.After performing pulmonary functional tests (PFTs), 11 human subjects (five controls and sixSM-exposed patients) were entered in this study. Total RNA were extracted from all biopsysamples and then cDNA was synthesised for each specimen using RT-PCR. Changes in geneexpression were measured using a RT2 Profiler ™PCR Array. PFTs have demonstrated moreobstructive and restrictive spirometric patterns among patients compared to the controls. Ahigher expression was recorded for both examined genes in bronchial of SM-exposed patients.Expression of FOXM1 and APOE genes in bronchial of the patients was significantly (p