[DNA damage and apoptosis of human airway epithelial cell lines caused by cigarette smoke extract]

Cigarette smoke exposure has been reported to induce DNA damage in a variety of cell types. This study was to investigate DNA damage and apoptosis in normal human bronchial epithelial cell line NHBE and lung carcinoma cell line SPC-A1 caused by cigarette smoke extract.

NHBE and SPC-A1 cells were incubated with different concentrations of cigarette smoke extract. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Fluorescence-labeled anti-histone gamma-H2AX polyclonal antibody was used to detect DNA double-strand breaks (DSBS) in chromatin. DNA damage was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of gamma-H2AX was detected by Western blot. Cigarette smoke extract-induced cell apoptosis was detected by sub G1 peak method and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining assay. Cell morphology of DNA damage and apoptosis was observed by confocal laser microscopy.

MTT assay results showed that cigarette smoke extract decreased the viability of NHBE and SPC-A1 cells in time-and concentration-dependent manners. Cigarette smoke extract induced DSBS in NHBE cells and SPC-A1 cells, and led to H2AX phosphorylation (denoted gamma-H2AX) in time-and concentration-dependent manners. The maximal value of gamma-H2AX was seen about 4 h after the treatment, and the value decreased subsequently, but did not reduce to a normal level. Cell apoptosis appeared about 12 h after DNA damage. Cigarette smoke extract also initiated the accumulation of gamma-H2AX in these cells, and cell apoptosis morphology was observed 4 h later.

Cigarette smoke extract can induce DSBS and apoptosis in NHBE and SPC-A1 cells in time-and concentration-dependent manners.