RELATION BETWEEN A MODERATE ZINC DEFICIENCY AND APOPTOSIS IN RATS LUNGS

BIAGGIO VS, NOLLACVG, GOMEZ NN, GIMENEZ MS.

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Sociedad Argentina de Bioquímica y Biologia Molecular (SAIB); 2007

Sociedad Argentina de Bioquímica y Biologia Molecular (SAIB)

Apoptosis is an important process in remodelling of tissues during injury. Zinc is a key element for maintenance of functional integrity in different tissues. Recent studies demonstrated that depletion of zinc may lead to rapid activation of apoptotic cascade in acute lung injury. However the relation between apoptosis process and zinc deficiency, is not clear yet.We analysed the expression in rat lung of Bax, Clusterina and Bad, genes involved in apoptotic pathways and if the supplementation with zinc diet (ZD refed) could lead to recuperation of normal function of lung.Wistar male rats (200 ± 20 g), were separated in three groups: (Co) with 30 mg/kg of zinc in the diet, (ZD) with 5mg/kg of zinc and (ZD refed) with 5mg/kg of zinc, this group was refed during 10 days.TotalmRNAwas isolated from lung tissue by using TRIzol. Aliquots of 2 g of cDNAwere used in the amplifications by PCR using specific primers. Beta actin was used as internal control. We detected a significant increase in Bax (p<0.05) in ZD group, in contrast in ZD refed decreased compared to control. Bad and Clusterina expression were not significantly different inZDand ZD refed group. These results confirm the effect of zinc deficiency in rat lung. In ZD refed it exists, at least in part, a recuperation of lung normal function and inhibition of apoptosis.