title: Secondhand smoke induces hepatic apoptosis and fibrosis in hamster fetus.
abstract: Secondhand smoke (SHS) is an important health issue worldwide. Inhaling SHS during pregnancy could cause abnormalities in the internal tissues of newborns, which may then impair fetal development and even cause severe intrauterine damage and perinatal death. However, the understanding of cytopathic mechanisms of SHS by maternal passive smoking on fetus liver during pregnancy is still limited. This study analyzed the effects of high-dose SHS (SHSH) on fetus liver using a maternal passive smoking animal model. Experiments showed that hepatic matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling-positive cells were significantly increased in livers from fetuses of hamsters treated with SHSH. Similarly, expressions of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic molecules were significantly higher in livers from fetuses of hamsters exposed to SHSH. Additionally, significantly increased inflammatory proteins, including transforming growth factor β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and interleukin 1β, and fibrotic signaling molecules, including phosphorylated Smad2/3, SP1, and α-smooth muscle actin, were observed in the fetus livers from hamsters treated with SHSH. This study revealed that SHSH not only increased apoptosis through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in the livers of fetuses from hamsters exposed to SHSH but also augmented hepatic fibrosis via Smad2/3 signaling.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Center, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Horng
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, Shu Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ta-Hsiung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Jeng
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan htc@csmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Tsai-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan bstzang@csmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Bor-Show
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Tzang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Secondhand smoke (SHS); apoptosis; fetus; fibrosis; liver