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Adverse effects of Sudanese toombak vs. Swedish snuff on human oral cells
Author(s) -
Costea Daniela Elena,
Lukandu Ochiba,
Bui Linh,
Ibrahim Muna Jaffar M.,
Lygre Raymond,
Neppelberg Evelyn,
Ibrahim Salah Osman,
Vintermyr Olav Karsten,
Johannessen Anne Christine
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2009.00825.x
Subject(s) - snuff , serial dilution , medicine , keratinocyte , staining , oral mucosa , viability assay , pathology , cell , in vitro , biology , biochemistry , alternative medicine
J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 128–140 Background: The high incidence of oral cancer in Sudan has been associated with the use of toombak , the local type of smokeless tobacco. However, its specific effects on human oral cells are not known. We aimed to investigate the effects of toombak on primary normal human oral keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and a dysplastic oral keratinocytic cell line, and to compare them with the effects induced by Swedish snuff. Method: Aqueous extracts were prepared from moist toombak and Swedish snuff and added in serial dilutions on in vitro monolayer cultured cells. Cell viability, morphology and growth, DNA double‐strand breaks (γH2AX staining), expression of phosphatidylserine (Annexin V staining), and cell cycle were assessed after various exposure time periods. Results: Significant decrease in cell number, occurrence of DNA double‐strain breaks, morphological and biochemical signs of programmed cell death were detected in all oral cell types exposed to clinically relevant dilutions of toombak extract, although to a lesser extent in normal oral fibroblasts and dysplastic keratinocytes. G2/M‐block was also detected in normal oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts exposed to clinically relevant dilutions of toombak extract. Swedish snuff extract had less adverse effects on oral cells, mainly at non‐clinically relevant dilutions. Conclusion: This study indicates a potential for toombak , higher than for Swedish snuff, to damage human oral epithelium. Dysplastic oral keratinocytes were less sensitive than their normal counterparts, suggesting that they might have acquired a partially resistant phenotype to toombak ‐induced cytotoxic effects while still being prone to DNA damage that could lead to further malignant progression.