Comparison of early onco/suppressor gene expressions in peripheral leukocytes and potential target organs of rats exposed to the carcinogen 1-nitropyrene.
An in-vivo model has been developed to study early expressions of c-myc, Ha-ras oncogenes and p53 suppressor gene as biomarkers of carcinogenic exposure and/or tumorigenesis. In order to validate the in-vivo expression changes as biomarkers, rats were treated with the outdoor air pollutant carcinogen 1-nitropyrene. The gene expression levels were measured after 24 and 48 h in potential target tissues (lung, liver, lymph nodes, kidneys, spleen) and in peripheral blood leukocytes. Another main objective was to prove the applicability of leukocytes as a surrogate tissue, having a similar expression pattern of the selected genes upon carcinogenic exposure. The c-myc oncogene was not suitable as an early biomarker because of the lack or low level of its expression. However, in the case of the other oncogene Ha-ras and the suppressor gene p53, remarkable and early changes were detected in the expression signals. Similar expression patterns could only be detected in leukocytes and the spleen; therefore we continue this validation study by using other types and routes of exposure.
Ember
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Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Hungary. ember@pubhealth.pote.hu
Kiss
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Gyöngyi
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Varga
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CS
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016259:Genes, myc; D016158:Genes, p53; D011905:Genes, ras; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D009153:Mutagens; D011721:Pyrenes; C032668:1-nitropyrene