Cytoprotective mechanisms in rats lung parenchyma with zinc deprivation

BIAGGIO, VS; ALVAREZ-OLMEDO DG; PEREZ CHACA, MV; SALVETTI NR; VALDEZ, SR; FANELLI MA; ORTEGA HH; GOMEZ, NN; GIMENEZ, MS

BIOMETALS

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2014 vol. 27 p. 305 - 315

0966-0844

Abstract Suboptimal intake of Zinc (Zn) is one ofthe most common worldwide nutritional problems.The aim of this study is to provide new evidence on therelation between moderate Zn restriction, and cytoprotectivefunctions in airway epithelium. We analyzedthe effect of moderate Zn deficiency (ZD) on theexpression of several pro and anti-apoptotic proteinsand cytoprotective factors (Hsp27 and Hsp 70i), aswell as the effect of restoring Zn during the refeedingperiod. Adult male rats were divided into three groups:Zn-adequate control group, Zn-deficient group andZn-refed group. Our previous findings showed animportant oxidative and nitrosative stress during ZD,this situation is accompanied by inflammation andalterations in the expression of matrix extracellularproteins. We observed a strong immunopositive areaof anti and pro-apoptotics proteins in ZD groups.The mRNA levels of Nrf-2, Bax and Bad wereincreased in ZD, while in ZD refed group its levelswere similar to the control values. The increasedexpression of Nrf-2 is likely to be critical forprotection of lung under inflammatory process triggeredduring ZD. Hsp27 and Hsp 70i showed anincrease of immunostaining area but they were notsignificant. During the supplementation period, heatshockproteins increased significantly. In conclusion,our results provide further evidence of the pathwaysinvolved in cytoprotection and apoptosis caused byZD. Additional studies are required in order toinvestigate whether Hsp27 and Hsp70 are consistentlyassociated with cellular stress and inflammation inlung. There may be a beneficial role for improved Znnutrition or Zn supplements early in lung pathology.