DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2026.3.39
E.S. Pashinskaya, А.М. Khnykau, I.S. Sobolevskaya, V.V. Pobyarzhin, D.K. Kuzhel, N.A. Kravchenko, Z.R. Pahom, D.S. Matveev
Effect of flavored nicotine-containing smoking mixtures on changes in the expression levels of Brca1 and Kras in the tissues of experimental animals
Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2026;25(3):39-44.
Abstract.
Objectives. To study the effect of smoking mixtures on the change in expression of proto-oncogenes Brca1, Kras in the experiment depending on the time of exposure to the aerosol of the smoking mixture.
Material and methods. To achieve this goal, a mechanical smoking simulation model was created for aspirating and exhaling aerosol from an e-cigarette (vape) in a 96-liter glass cube. The experiment was performed on 50 male Wistar rats. The animals were exposed to the smoking mixture (6% nicotine content, 50/50 VG/PG, flavored) by aspirating and exhaling the mixture from the e-cigarette (vape) five times, totaling 3.5 liters of aerosol. The animals were exposed to the mixture for 5 minutes.
Following exposure to the smoking mixture, samples (liver, lungs, brain, and blood plasma) were collected in accordance with the experimental design protocol. To achieve this goal, the expression of proto-oncogenes Brca1 and Kras was determined in comparison with the reference genes β-actin (Actb) and Gapdh by PCR analysis in the tissues of intact and experimental rats.
Results. The expression of Brca1 and Kras in the tissues of experimental animals significantly exceeds the results recorded in the control group at all observation periods, with a maximum increase by the 45th to 56th day of exposure to the smoking mixture.
Conclusions. Flavored nicotine-containing smoking mixtures cause an increase in the expression of the proto-oncogenes Brca1 and Kras, which can lead to genomic instability and initiate disruption of cell cycle regulation processes.
Keywords: Brca1, Kras, rat, smoking mixture, vape, expression, proto-oncogenes, oncogenesis.
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Submitted 16.03.2026
Accepted 19.06.2026
Information about authors:
Еkaterina S. Pashinskaya – Candidate of Biological Sciences, associate professor, Head of the Scientific and Educational Center “Center for Molecular Genetic and Biotechnological Research”, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, htpps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5473-4240, e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.;
A.М. Khnykau – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Infectious Diseases with the course of the Faculty for Advanced Training & Retraining, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5832-2602
I.S. Sobolevskaya – Candidate of Biological Sciences, associate professor, Head of the Chair of Histology, Cytology and Embryology, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University;
V.V. Pobyarzhin – Candidate of Biological Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Medical Biology and General Genetics, Dean of Overseas Students Training Faculty, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3508-9995
D.K. Kuzhel – Candidate of Biological Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Medical Biology and General Genetics, Vice Rector for Ideological and Educational Work, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9687-7963
N.A. Kravchenko – senior lecturer of the Chair of Medical Biology and General Genetics, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University;
Z.R. Pahom – a third-year student of the faculty of General Medicine, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University;
D.S. Matveev – a third-year student of the faculty of General Medicine, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University.
