AIM: To investigate the expression of the DR4, DR5, OPG, DcR1, and DcR2 in rat brain tissue.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Thirty rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into three groups as the control group (n=10), tumor group (n=10), and zincoxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NP) treatment group (n=10). The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blotting methods were used to measure the expression of DR4, DR5, OPG, DcR1, DcR2 and β-actin in the brain tissues of all the three groups.

RESULTS: Expression of DR4, DR5, OPG, DcR1, and DcR2 genes were decreased in the tumor group. Overexpression of DR4, DR5, OPG, DcR1, and DcR2 was observed in brain tissues of the ZnO-NP group.

CONCLUSION: Increased expression of the DR4, DR5, OPG, DcR1, and DcR2 genes may play an important role in ZnO-NP treatment of brain tumors.