title: The effect of aspartame administration on oncogene and suppressor gene expressions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspartame (L-phenylalanine N-L-alpha-aspartyl-1-methyl ester) is an artificial sweetener with widespread applications. Previously published results have shown that among rats receiving aspartame a significant increase of lymphoreticular neoplasms, brain tumours and transitional cell tumours occurred. The aim of our short-term experiment was to investigate the biological effect of aspartame consumption by determining the expressions of key oncogenes and a tumour suppressor gene.
  
  
  METHODS
  After one week per os administration of various doses of aspartame to CBA/CA female mice, p53, c-myc, Ha-ras gene expression alterations were determined in individual organs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed an increase in gene expressions concerning all the investigated genes especially in organs with a high proliferation rate: lymphoreticular organs, bone-marrow and kidney.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspartame has a biological effect even at the recommended daily maximum dose.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. katalin_gombos@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gombos
authors.forename: Tímea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varjas
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Orsós
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polyák
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peredi
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Ghodratollah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nowrasteh
authors.forename: Antal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tettinger
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mucsi
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ember
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001218:Aspartame / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D011905:Genes, ras; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C489428:Myc protein, mouse; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D001218:Aspartame