Study of Effects of Cigarette Smoke Condensates on Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Human Lung Epithelial Cells by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-FTMS) is an emerging method for kinetic measurements and inhibitor screening of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This method is accurate, reproducible, and was successfully applied to the analysis of various biosamples. Recent studies showed the important biological functions of acetylcholinesterase in many kinds of tumors caused by smoking; however, the effect of cigarette smoke condensates (CSCs) on AChE was unclear. Herein, the effects of CSCs on AChE activity in human lung epithelial cells were studied by MALDI-FTMS. The results showed that AChE activity in human lung epithelial cells could be inhibited by CSCs, and inhibition degree on AChE activity depended on the amount of CSCs. Owing to the close relationship of AChE to lung cancer caused by smoking, such findings provide information regarding the relation between the aggressiveness of lung tumor and cigarette smoking.

Keywords:

• Acetylcholinesterase
• Cigarette smoke condensates
• Human lung epithelial cells
• Mass spectrometry

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20805056, 20875097, 20902104, 21072115, and 21175153) and the ministry of Science and Technology of China (2009IM031300 and 2010IM030900).

Notes

^a Cigarette smoke condensates were produced under standard ISO smoking machine conditions.