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Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure causes airway inflammation,which may lead to lung cancer.The activation of epithelialmesenchal transition (EMT) is assumed to be a crucial step in lung tumor metastasis and development.We assessed the EMT effect of low concentrations (0,0.1,1.0,and 5.0 μg/mL)of PM2.5 organic extract on a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B).PM2.5 samples were collected from three cities (Shanghai,Ningbo,and Nanjing) in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in autumn 2014.BEAS-2B cells were exposed to the PM2.5 extract to assess cell viability,invasion ability as well as the relative mRNA and protein expressions of EMT markers.Our findings revealed that BEAS-2B cells changed from the epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype after exposure.In all groups,PM2.5 exposure dose-dependently decreased the expression of E-cadherin and increased the expression of Vimentin.The key transcription factors,including ZEB1 and Slug,were significantly up-regulated upon exposure.These results indicated that the PM2.5 organic extract induced different degrees of EMT progression in BEAS-2B cells.The cell invasion ability increased in a concentration-dependent manner after 48 hr of treatment with the extract.This study offers a novel insight into the effects of PM2.5 on EMT and the potential health risks associated with PM2.5 in the YRD region.