title: Boric acid increases the  expression levels of human anion exchanger genes SLC4A2 and SLC4A3.
abstract: Boron  is an important micronutrient in plants and animals. The role of boron in  living systems includes coordinated regulation of gene expression, growth and  proliferation of higher plants and animals. There are several well-defined  genes associated with boron transportation and tolerance in plants and these  genes show close homology with human anion exchanger genes. Mutation of these  genes also characterizes some genetic disorders. We investigated the toxic  effects of boric acid on HEK293 cells and mRNA expression of anion exchanger (SLC4A1, SLC4A2 and SLC4A3) genes. Cytotoxicity of boric acid at different  concentrations was tested by using the methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium  bromide assay. Gene expression profiles were examined using quantitative  real-time PCR. In the HEK293 cells, the nontoxic upper concentration of boric  acid was 250 μM; more  than 500 μM  caused cytotoxicity. The 250 μM boric  acid concentration increased gene expression level of SLC4A2 up to  8.6-fold and SLC4A3 up to 2.6-fold, after 36-h incubation. There was no  significant effect of boric acid on SLC4A1 mRNA expression levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Fatih University, Büyükcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. fahriakbas@fatih.edu.tr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akbas
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D027321:Anion Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017920:Antiporters / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D027963:Chloride-Bicarbonate Antiporters; D017931:DNA Primers; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D064606:SLC4A Proteins
chemical_list: D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D017920:Antiporters; D001888:Boric Acids; D027963:Chloride-Bicarbonate Antiporters; D017931:DNA Primers; D064606:SLC4A Proteins; C579496:SLC4A2 protein, human; C489237:SLC4A3 protein, human; C032688:boric acid