Expression Changes of Apoptotic Genes in Tissues from Mice Exposed to Nicotine

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

2 Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

3 Students Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

4 Department of Immunology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

 
Objective: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of various diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. Nicotine, one of the major toxic components of tobacco, contributes to the pathogenesis of different diseases. Methods: Given the controversy about nicotine toxicity, the present study was conducted to determine apoptotic effects of nicotine on the heart, kidney, lung and liver of male mice. Real-time PCR was performed to identify mRNA expression changes in apoptotic-related genes between nicotine treated and control mice. Result: In the heart and lung, nicotine caused significant decrease in P53, Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA expression levels compared to the control group. However, in the kidney and liver, the result was significant increase in Bax, Caspase-2, Caspase-3 and a significant decrease in P53 mRNA expression (p<0.01). DNA fragmentation assays indicated no fragmentation in the heart and lung, but in the kidney and liver of nicotine treated mice, isolated DNA was fragmented. Conclusion: Our study provided insight into the molecular mechanisms of nicotine anti-apoptotic effects on the heart and lung as well as pro-apoptotic effects on kidney and liver via a P53-independent pathway.

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Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 18, Issue 1
January 2017
Pages 239-244

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 December 2016
  • Revise Date: 09 January 2017
  • Accept Date: 08 February 2017

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