Effects of Fluoride on the Expression of p38MAPK Signaling Pathway-Related Genes and Proteins in Spleen Lymphocytes of Mice

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2016 Oct;173(2):333-8. doi: 10.1007/s12011-016-0656-9. Epub 2016 Feb 23.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of sodium fluoride on the expression of p38MAPK signaling pathway-related genes and proteins in the spleen lymphocytes of mice, revealing the mechanism of the toxicity of fluoride to the immune system. The spleen lymphocytes, isolated from mice consuming different NaF doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L) for 60 days, were cultured in medium with bacteria lipopolysaccharide, and the cells' proliferation ability was analyzed through MTT; real-time PCR detected the change of MLK3/MKK6/p38MAPK/MSK1/ATF1 on mRNA, and the difference of protein expression of MKK6/p38MAPK were detected through the Western blotting. The results suggested that the proliferation ability of spleen lymphocytes isolated from mice consuming different NaF doses is lower, and the expression of genes and proteins of MKK6/p38MAPK showed a decreasing trend. These results demonstrate that fluoride can suppress the activation of p38MAPK pathway in mice spleen lymphocytes and further influences the function of the immune system.

Keywords: Fluoride; Gene expression; Protein expression; Spleen lymphocytes; p38MAPK.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Fluorides / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / immunology*

Substances

  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Fluorides