Transcriptional activity of Gstp and Gclc genes under prolonged acrylamide exposure

Introduction. Acrylamide is a toxicant encountered in both industrial and domestic settings. It forms during the thermal processing of food and is used in industrial processes, increasing the risk of human exposure. Acrylamide has nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, and genotoxic properties, but its impact on cellular mechanisms, including antioxidant and detoxification systems, remains insufficiently studied. Investigating the expression of the Gstp and Gclc genes, involved in antioxidant defense, is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of acrylamide-induced changes.ThThe aim of the work was to study the changes in the expression of the Gstp and Gclc genes under prolonged acrylamide exposure and to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive measures using oxymethyluracil-based compounds.Materials and methods. The experiment involved sixty male white rats received acrylamide (5 mg/kg body weight) daily for 90 days. Preventive correction was conducted one hour before acrylamide administration. Gene expression levels were assessed using real-time PCR.Results. Prolonged acrylamide exposure caused changes in the expression of the Gstp and Gclc genes in kidney tissue. The expression of Gstp significantly increased, especially in groups received preventive correction with ascorbic acid-containing compounds. The expression of Gclc initially decreased but increased after 3 months, particularly with the use of acetylcysteine and sodium succinate.Limitations. This study focused on evaluating the expression levels of two key Gstp and Gclc genes, associated with antioxidant defense under prolonged acrylamide exposure. However, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of acrylamide-induced nephrotoxicity, further analysis is required to include other genetic markers related to detoxification, inflammation, and oxidative stress. There is also needed the multifactorial approach, incorporating the assessment of biochemical and physiological indicators of toxic exposure. Conclusion. Acrylamide negatively affects kidney function, as evidenced by changes in the expression of Gstp and Gclc genes. The most effective prevention was observed with the use of oxymethyluracil combined with acetylcysteine.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Ufa Research Institute of Occupational Health and Human Ecology (protocol of the meeting dated December 17, 2024, No. 01-12). Experiments were conducted in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (ETS N 123) and Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of September 22, 2010, on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. Contributions: Yakupova T.G. – study concept and design, material collection and processing, statistical analysis, writing text; Karimov D.D., Karimov D.O. – study concept and design, statistical analysis; Ryabova Yu.V., Repina E.F., Garipova Z.R. – material collection and processing; Mukhamadieva G.F. – editing. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Funding. This study was conducted as part of the implementation of the state assignment included in the sectoral research program of Rospotrebnadzor, titled «Development of scientific foundations for the national system ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being, health risk management, and improving the quality of life of the population of the Russian Federation» for the period 2021–2025, item 6.1.8. State registration number: 121062100058-8.Received: January 19 , 2025 / Revised: January 31, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: July 31, 2025

acrylamide, rats, experiment, prolonged exposure, kidneys, gene expression, antioxidant defense