Environ Health Toxicol.  2012 ;27(1):e2012017.

The Role of p53 in Marijuana Smoke Condensates-induced Genotoxicity and Apoptosis

Affiliations
  • 1School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
  • 2College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea.
  • 3Fusion Technology Laboratory, Hoseo University, Asan, Korea. ohsm0403@hoseo.edu

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
Marijuana is one of the most frequently abused drug in Korea and its adverse health effects are controversial. p53 is known to be crucial in regulating the DNA damage responses, and adverse effects can occur when it is regulated by marijuana smoke. We evaluated a role of p53 on genotoxic effect and apoptosis in lung cancer cells exposed to marijuana smoke condensates (MSCs).
METHODS
The p53-related genotoxicity and apoptosis of MSCs were evaluated using in vitro bioassay, viz., comet assay, cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay and apoptosis assay. We used two cell lines with differential p53 expression (p53-wildtype (WT) H460 and p53-null H1299).
RESULTS
MSCs significantly increased DNA breakages and chromosomal changes in p53-WT H460 and p53-null H1299 cells. The genotoxicity induced by MSCs in p53-null H1299 cells showed greater sensitivity than p53-WT H460 cells. Moreover, MSCs showed a significant increase in reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis. The apoptotic responses induced by MSCs were higher in p53-WT H460 cells than in p53-null H1299 cells. Significantly increased mRNA expression or apoptosis related genes, including p53, caspase-3, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were observed in the p53-WT H460 cells exposed to MSCs.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that MSCs induce DNA/chromosomal damages and apoptosis in human lung cancer cells and p53 plays an important role in the cellular response to MSCs. The present study may have border implications for our understanding of pulmonary diseases.

Keyword

Apoptosis; Genotoxicity; Lung neoplasms; Marijuana smoke condensates; Tumor suppressor protein p53

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Biological Assay
Cannabis
Caspase 3
Cell Line
Comet Assay
DNA
DNA Damage
Humans
Korea
Lung Diseases
Lung Neoplasms
Micronucleus Tests
Reactive Oxygen Species
RNA, Messenger
Smoke
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
Caspase 3
DNA
RNA, Messenger
Reactive Oxygen Species
Smoke
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
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