TOXIN REVIEWS, cilt.40, sa.1, ss.17-24, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Inflammatory suppressive effects of nicotine have been observed in inflammatory diseases. We aimed to investigate morphological damage and the changes in TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-10 expression in the healthy stomach after long-term oral nicotine administration. Nicotine was added to the drinking water of Sprague Dawley rats for 6 weeks. Histological signs of damage, inflammatory cytokines, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) levels were evaluated in the gastric tissues. There were no histological signs of inflammation in both groups. TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta were decreased in the nicotine-treated group. A positive correlation was found between TNF-alpha levels and infiltrated inflammatory cell count. nAChR levels were increased in the nicotine group. Long term nicotine administration upregulates and activates nAChR. The reduced TNF-alpha or with high activity nAChR affects the modulation of neutrophil functions and its entry into tissue. Nicotine may deteriorate host defence in non-inflammatory situations.