American scientists discovered the molecular mechanism that plays a key role in the development of malignant tumors in the lungs under the influence of tobacco smoke.According to researchers, the most probable cause of malignant transformation of epithelial cells of the bronchi is to turn off a gene FANCD2, is responsible for destroying cancer cells and restoration of damaged DNA.To reproduce the conditions in the light smoker, the researchers placed the cells in the bronchial epithelium hollow tube is pa*sed through the tobacco smoke.As it turned out, the impact of tobacco smoke condensate resulted in a reduction of activity in the cells of the gene FANCD2.Protein encoded by this gene is part of the protein complex responsible for maintaining the structure of DNA and cell killing mutants.With a lack of FANCD2 in the cells increased the number of chromosomal mutations, and then in healthy cells triggers programmed death - apoptosis.Under the influence of tobacco smoke increased the number of mutations in the colonies of malignant cells of lung tumors, but this did not lead to self-destruction of these cells, and they continued to actively proliferate.According to the authors of the study, smoking may have a similar effect on the synthesis of other proteins responsible for the preservation of DNA.However, the most compelling evidence of the key role of FANCD2 in the development of lung cancer in smokers is the fact that cells with high content of protein were completely protected from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.
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