Evaluation of immunohistochemical expression of Annexin A2 and histopathologic changes of lung tissue in rats exposed to nicotine nitrosamine ketone and Nigella sativa nanocapsules

One of the powerful carcinogens in tobacco is nicotine nitrosamine ketone (NNK), which can activate annexin a2 and develop the irritation of the lung. Since the Nigella sativa plays a vital role in treating cancer, the aim of this research was to evaluation of annexin a2 expression and histopathologic changes of lung tissue in rats exposed to NNK and Nigella sativa nanocapsules.

In this experimental research, 45 Wistar male and female rats with average weight and standard deviation of 103.83 ± 23.48 grams were haphazardly separated into five groups including supplement, supplement + NNK, NNK, saline and control. NNK-induced groups received NNK subcutaneously one day per week at a rate of 12.5 mg/kg/bw. Supplemented groups similarly consumed Nigella sativa nanocapsules for 12 weeks at 12.5 μg / kg body weight. Annexin a2 expression in lung tissue were quantified by immunohistochemistry technique. One-way ANOVA and tukey’s multiple comparisons test were utilized for analyzing the data.

Exposure to NNK significantly augmented annexin a2 expression compared to the saline group (P<0.001). On the other hand, a period of Nigella sativa nanocapsules consumption significantly decreased the annexin a2 expression in supplement + NNK group compared to the NNK group (P<0.001).

It seems that Nigella sativa nanocapsules consumption along with other therapeutic methods, can be useful in reducing the role of carcinogenic NNK and inflammation caused by cigarette smoke.