Activity of Cytochrome p450 as a Steroidogenesis and Oxidation Catalyst of Cholesterol in Experimental Animals Exposed to Cigarette Smoke

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Basically, body regulates various harmful substances, including nicotine and tar which were carried by cigarette smoke. Nicotine which accumulated in blood was transported to liver to be metabolized and excreted in kidneys. The metabolism of nicotine into a harmless substance to body is closely related to the role of cytochrome P450 enzyme. In liver, nicotine was catalyzed by cytochrome P450 to be intermediate nicotine-Δ-1 ‘(5’) - iminium ion. The elevation of cholesterol leads the P450 to discard overage cholesterol to keep cholesterol homeostasis and atheroprotection. AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the activity of cytochrome P450 to cigarette smoke exposure and to cholesterol level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 Rattus norvegicus male Wistar albino strain was exposed to cigarette smoke with a different number of cigarettes for 57 weeks (2, 3, and 4 cigarette/day group, with a group of control). In the 58th week, the blood of rats was collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis. RESULTS: Both cytochrome P450 activity and cholesterol level affected to cigarette smoke exposure (p > 0.05, 0.00 for cholesterol levels and 0.04 for p450 levels). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of cigarette smoke significantly has an impact on increasing cholesterol levels and decreasing the activity of P450 enzyme. The elevating of cigarette number had a significant impact between the smoker and non-smoker groups.