Early-stage immunoexpression of inflammatory, angiogenic, and survival markers in tongue epithelium of mice exposed to hookah smoke.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The objective was to evaluate the early-stage immunoexpression of markers (COX-2, NF-kB, VEGFR-1 and apoptotic index) related to inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell survival in the tongue dorsum epithelium of mice exposed to hookah smoke.

Materials and methods

The sample consisted of Swiss mice (N = 20), female gender, aged 2 months, and approximately 25g each, four groups (n = 5) mice: group exposed to fresh air and groups exposed to hookah smoke for 7, 15, and 30 days. Tongues were embedded in paraffin. A tissue microarray was constructed, and immunohistochemistry was performed for Cyclooxygenase 2, NF-kappa B, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) for apoptotic analysis. The posit

SUBMITTER: Pereira AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11864539 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature