N-acylated derivatives of ethanolamine increase mRNA expression of Bax proapoptotic protein in the human adrenal cortex

Abstract

N-acyletanolamines (NAE) is a class of minor lipids that, as to their chemical character, represent acyl derivatives of ethanolamine. It is well known that NAE have a  variety of biological effects in the body such as: membrane protective, antioxidant, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial ones. In addition, their  involvement in the regulation of apoptosis and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation of different genesis is being studied intensively in recent years. NAE proapoptotic  effect on human extratumoral adrenal tissue was also demonstrated. However, the mechanisms through which the proapoptotic and antiproliferative effects are  realized, remain almost unknown. Aim. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of different NAE concentrations on the level of Bax proapoptotic protein  mRNA expression in extratumoral tissue of the human adrenal cortex in vitro. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on sections of extratumor tissue of  the adrenal glands with hormonally inactive tumors. The level of Bax mRNA expression was evaluated by differential polymerase chain reaction after reverse  transcription (RT-PCR). Results. The incubation of extratumoral tissue slices of the adrenal cortex resulted in an increased level of mRNA proapoptotic protein in the  presence of NAE. The most significant effect was observed when the NAE concentration was 10–6 mol/l. Conclusion. The increased level of Bax expression in extratumoral tissue of the adrenal cortex, which allows NAE to be attributed to the factors of proapoptotic direction, was induced by N-acyletanolamines in vitro. The  findings of experiments show that proapoptotic effects of NAE can be realized through an increase in Bax expression.