Cell lines and cell culture. A human non‑small‑cell lung cancer cell line, A549, was provided by Professor Akiyama from the Department of Molecular Oncology at the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences (Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan). A549 cells were grown in RPMI‑1640 medium supplemented with 10% FBS and Antibiotics‑Antimycotics in a 5% CO2 humidified atmosphere at 37˚C.