Changes in the expression and protein level of matrix metalloproteinases after exposure to waterpipe tobacco smoke

Abstract

Waterpipe smoking has become a worldwide epidemic with health consequences that only now are beginning to be understood fully. Because waterpipe use involves inhaling a large volume of toxicant-laden smoke that can cause inflammation, some health consequences may include inflammation-mediated lung injury. Excess matrix metalloproteinase expression is a key step in the etiology of toxicant exposure-driven inflammation and injury. In this study, changes in the level and mRNA of major matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, -9, and -12) in the lungs of mice following exposure to waterpipe smoke were investigated. Balb/c mice were exposed to waterpipe smoke for one hour daily, over a period of 2 or 8 weeks. Control mice were exposed to fresh air only. ELISA and real-time PCR techniques were used to determine the protein and mRNA levels of MMP-1, -9, and -12 in the lungs. Our findings showed that MMP-1, -9, and -12 levels in the lung significantly increased after both 2 (p < 0.05) and 8 weeks (p < 0.01) exposures. Similarly, RT-PCR findings showed that mRNA of those proteinases significantly increased following 2 (p < 0.01) and 8 weeks (p < 0.001) exposures. In conclusion, waterpipe smoking is associated strongly with lung injury as measured by elevation in the expression of MMPs in the lung tissue.

• Hookah
• inflammation
• MMP1
• MMP9
• MMP12
• smoking

Acknowledgements

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the NIH or the FDA.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. The authors would like to thank Jordan University of Science and Technology for providing support to conduct the study (Grant number 150/2013 to OK). Drs. Eissenberg and Shihadeh are supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P50DA036105 and the Center for Tobacco Products of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.