• Zhi Zheng, Jung Kuk Park, Oh Wook Kwon, Sung Hoon Ahn, Young Joo Kwon, Linjuan Jiang, Shaohui Zhu, and Byoung Hee Park.
• School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Henan, China.
• J. Korean Med. Sci. 2022 Aug 1; 37 (30): e235.

BackgroundBenzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a carcinogenic compound in contaminated foodstuffs. The effect of oral intake of the environmental carcinogen BaP under low doses and frequent exposure on a digestive system has not been thoroughly verified.MethodsIn this regard, this study was conducted to prove the toxicity effects of BaP on the stomach and colon tissue after exposure to C57BL/6 mouse (3 and 6 µg/kg) following daily oral administration for 60 days. This study investigated acute gastric mucosal injury, severe gastric edema, cell infiltration, and mononuclear cells, multifocal cells, and tumoral inflammatory cells.ResultsThe results of ELISA showed that the expression of serum interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the BaP exposure group were significantly increased, and a high level of DNA adduct distribution in their stomach and colon. Moreover, this study has confirmed the expression of early carcinogenesis markers: nuclear factor (NF)-κB, p53, IL-6, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), mucin (MUC1 and MUC2), and β-catenin in the stomach and colon, and showed that there was a significant increase in IL-6, NF-κB, SOD1, β-catenin, and MUC1 (P < 0.05). At the same time, there was a significant decrease in MUC2 and p53 (P < 0.05). Thus, even in low doses, oral intake of BaP can induce DNA damage, increasing the potential risk of gastrointestinal cancer.ConclusionThis study will provide a scientific basis for researching environmental contaminated food and intestinal health following daily oral administration of BaP.© 2022 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

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