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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Methods to Evaluate Cytotoxicity and Immunosuppression of Combustible Tobacco Product Preparations
Published on: January 10, 2015
Nicotine induces chromatin changes and c-Jun up-regulation in HL-60 leukemia cells
Emilie Landais1, Victoria El-Khoury, Alain Prevost
1Secteur Prévention, Institut Jean-Godinot, 1 Avenue Général Koënig, 51056 Reims Cedex, France.
Abstract:
Although nicotine has been implicated as a potential factor in the pathogenesis of human cancer, its mechanisms of action regarding cancer development remain largely unknown. HL-60 cells were used to investigate the effects of a short-term treatment with nicotine at concentrations found in the blood of smokers. The findings show that nicotine induces chromatin decondensation, histone H3 acetylation and up-regulation of the c-Jun transcription factor mRNA. This increase is inhibited by mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist, suggesting that nicotine alters cellular function directly via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and may then play a role in cell physiology and tumor promotion.
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