Effect of Dietary Zinc Deficiency on Proliferation of Esophageal Squamous Cells in Mice and Related Mechanism

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of dietary zinc deficiency on the proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells in mice and related mechanism. Methods Twenty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups and fed with zinc-sufficient diet and zinc-deficient diet respectively. We observed the changes of body weight, zinc concentration in blood and tissues, and the expression of PCNA, P38MAPK, NF-κB p105, NF-κB p65 and COX-2 proteins in the esophageal mucosa tissues. Results Compared with the zinc-sufficient group, the body weight and zinc content in blood and esophageal mucosa were significantly decreased in the zinc-deficient group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that PCNA, P38MAPK, NF-κB p105, NF-κB p65 and COX-2 in the esophageal mucosa of the zinc-deficient group were significantly increased. Conclusion Insufficient dietary zinc intake can inhibit the growth of mice and promote the proliferation of mouse esophageal epithelial squamous cells. The mechanism is related to the induced overexpression of COX-2, P38MAPK, PCNA, NF-κBp and other tumor-related factors.

Keywords

• zinc deficiency
• esophageal cancer
• cell proliferation
• inflammatory response