The effect of aspartame administration on oncogene and suppressor gene expressions.
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.
Gombos
Katalin
K
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. katalin_gombos@yahoo.com
Varjas
Tímea
T
Orsós
Zsuzsanna
Z
Polyák
Eva
E
Peredi
Judit
J
Varga
Zsuzsanna
Z
Nowrasteh
Ghodratollah
G
Tettinger
Antal
A
Mucsi
Gyula
G
Ember
István
I
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*
C489428:Myc protein, mouse; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D001218:Aspartame