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Duration-dependent effects of nicotine exposure on growth and AKT activation in human kidney epithelial cells

Yu-Wei Chang1, Kamaleshwar P Singh2

  • 1Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
|February 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Nicotine exposure impacts kidney cells differently based on duration. Acute exposure can harm kidney cells, while long-term nicotine exposure promotes their proliferation via the AKT pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Toxicology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Nicotine exposure is linked to adverse kidney effects globally.
  • The impact of exposure duration on nicotine-induced kidney damage and its molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the acute and long-term effects of nicotine on normal human kidney epithelial cells (HK-2).
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying nicotine's duration-dependent effects on kidney cell growth.

Main Methods:

  • HK-2 cells were treated with 1 and 10 µM nicotine for acute and long-term durations.
  • Cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis markers, and the AKT signaling pathway were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Acute exposure to 10 µM nicotine decreased cell viability, while 1 µM had no significant effect.
  • Long-term exposure to both concentrations of nicotine significantly increased cell proliferation.
  • Acute nicotine exposure decreased pAKT levels, whereas long-term exposure increased pAKT levels, indicating AKT pathway modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Nicotine exhibits duration-dependent effects on human kidney epithelial cells.
  • Long-term nicotine exposure promotes kidney cell proliferation by activating the AKT pathway.
Keywords:
Acute kidney injuryKidney cancerKidney diseaseNicotineTobacco smoke

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