Absence of genotoxic potential of 902 MHz (GSM) and 1747 MHz (DCS) wireless communication signals: In vivo two-year bioassay in B6C3F1 mice

Purpose: The aim of the present investigation was to determine the incidence of micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes of B6C3F1 mice that had been chronically exposed to radiofrequencies (RF) used for mobile communication.

Materials and methods: ‘Ferris wheels’ were used to expose tube-restrained male and female mice to simulated environmental RF signals of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM, 902 MHz) or Digital Cellular System (DCS, 1747 MHz). RF signals were applied to the mice for 2 hours/day on 5 days/week for two years, at maximal whole-body-averaged specific absorption rates of 0.4, 1.3, and 4.0 W/kg body weight. Concurrent sham-exposed mice, cage controls, and positive controls injected with mitomycin C were included in this investigation. At necropsy, peripheral blood smears were prepared, and coded slides were stained using May-Grünwald-Giemsa or acridine orange. The incidence of micronuclei was recorded for each mouse in 2000 polychromatic and 2000 normochromatic erythrocytes.

Results: There were no significant differences in the frequency of micronuclei between RF-exposed, sham-exposed, and cage control mice, irrespective of the staining/counting method used. Micronuclei were, however, significantly increased in polychromatic erythrocytes of the positive control mice.

Conclusions: In conclusion, the data did not indicate RF-induced genotoxicity in mice after two years of exposure.     

Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference of Ku70 to enhance radiosensitivity of human mammary epithelial cells

Purpose:?To investigate the radiosensitising effect of Ku autoantigen 70 (Ku70) and Ku autoantigen 80 (Ku80) knockdown by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) in the MCF10A immortalised human mammary epithelial cell line.

Materials and methods:?MCF10A cells were infected with lentiviral vectors for RNAi of Ku70. The Ku70-knockdown cell line (Ku70i) and a mock-infected control cell line (LVTHM) were used to perform radiation experiments. For the in?vitro Micronucleus (MN) assay, both cell lines were irradiated with doses of 2 and 4 Gy ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. For cell survival experiments, doses ranging between 0 and 8 Gy were used.

Results:?Western blot analysis showed that the Ku70 lentiviral vector was effective in silencing the expression of both Ku70 and Ku80. A significantly higher radiation-induced MN yield was obtained in the Ku70i cell line compared to the control LVTHM cell line. RNAi of Ku70 also resulted in a lower survival yield after irradiation compared to the control cell line. Analysis of cell death mechanisms showed that MCF10A cells (Ku70i and LVTHM) do not undergo apoptosis, but undergo post-irradiation cellular senescence.

Conclusion:?RNAi of Ku70 resulted in increased chromosomal and cellular radiosensitivity in the MCF10A human mammary cell line after irradiation with ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. These results further strengthen the role of the Ku protein in correct DNA double strand break (DSB) repair.     

Influence of electromagnetic fields on reproductive system of male rats

Abstract

Purpose: Reports of declining male fertility have renewed interest in the role of environmental and occupational exposures in the etiology of human infertility. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of 10 GHz exposure on the male Wistar rat's reproductive system and to find out the possible causative factors.

Materials and methods: The study was divided into sham-exposed and exposed groups. Seventy day-old rats were exposed to 10 GHz microwave radiation for 2 h per day for 45 days at power density 0.21 mW/cm² and specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.014 W/kg. After the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for the estimation of in vivo chromosomal aberration damage and micronucleus test. Spermatozoa were taken out for estimation of Caspase-3, comet assay, testosterone and electron microscopy and compared with sham-exposed.

Results: The study of scanning electron microscopic revealed shrinkage of the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Apoptotic bodies were found in exposed group. A flow cytometry examination showed formation of micronuclei body in lymphocytes of exposed group. Comet assay confirmed DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) strand break. Testosterone level was found significantly decreased with the shrinkage of testicular size.

Conclusions: 10 GHz field has an injurious effect on fertility potential of male-exposed animals.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者外周血淋巴细胞的DNA损伤及意义

目的 探讨阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome,OSAHS)患者外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤及意义.方法 选择在兰州大学第一附属医院就诊,经睡眠监测(PSG)确诊的30例男性OSAHS患者和22例男性健康志愿者,并用Epworth嗜睡量表(ESS)进行评估.用胞质阻滞法(cytokinesis blocked micronucleus,CBMN)检测外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤情况.结果 OSAHS组外周血微核发生频率(以下简称微核率)显著高于时照组,(38.60±11.85)‰vs(12.40±5.47)‰(P<0.01),且0SAHS组的微核率在轻、中、重各组间差异有统计学意义,(28.46±8.42)‰vs(38.01±10.46)‰vs(42.43±11.72)‰(P<0.05).OSAHS组的微核率与睡眠呼吸低能气指数、夜间最低血氧饱和度、夜间平均血氧饱和度均有相关性(rs=0.517,P<0.01;rs=-0.549,P<0.01;rs=-0.370,P<0.05).而OSAHS组染色体桥的发生频率也高于对照组,(7.65±6.30)‰vs(3.93±2.23)‰(P<0.05).结论 OSAHS患者外周血淋巴细胞存在较高的DNA损伤现象,这种损伤可能与间断性缺氧引起的氧化应激相关,并且可能进一步参与了心脑血管等靶器官损害的发病机制.     

口腔癌前病变和鳞癌P53表达与微核的关系

目的：分析脱落细胞涂片和组织病理切片检测P53蛋白水平的意义,探讨P53表达与微核的关系,方法：对20例白斑和18例癌患者的口腔粘膜脱落细胞涂片和组织病理切片进行P53表达的免疫组化研究,对脱落细胞涂片还进行计数的分析,结果：组织切片中,P53表达阳性率在上皮异常增生白斑中为60％,在上皮单纯增生白斑中为10％（P＜0．05）,P53蛋白表达阳性组和阴性组织胸微核数无显著性差异。结论：P53蛋白的过表达从肿瘤发生的早期阶段就开始出现,与上皮增生的程度有正相关性,微核计数升高是肿瘤发生中更早期的事件。     

The usefulness of cytogenetic biomarkers as intermediate endpoints in carcinogenesis.

During the last decades, cytogenetic biomarkers in peripheral lymphocytes have been used to assess exposure to carcinogenic or mutagenic agents in occupational settings. The first method in use assessed chromosomal aberrations (CA). It is generally accepted that chromosomal mutations are causal events in the development of neoplasia, and it has earlier been postulated, but not proven, that increased chromosomal damage may reflect an enhanced cancer risk. Two less laborious techniques, sister chromatoid exchanges (SCE) and micronuclei (MN), were introduced later-on in occupational health surveillances. SCE represent symmetrical exchanges between sister chromatids; generally they do not result in alteration of the chromosome morphology. MN represent small, additional nuclei formed by the exclusion of chromosome fragments or whole chromosomes lagging at mitosis. MN rates therefore indirectly reflect chromosome breakage or impairment of the mitotic apparatus. The health significance of increased levels of SCE and MN is poorly understood. The usefulness of these cytogenetic techniques for implementing preventive measures in the workplaces depend on how well they serve as biomarkers of exposure but also on whether they can predict cancer risk or not. Recently performed epidemiological studies show that the CA frequency predicts the overall cancer risk in healthy subjects. Such associations could not been seen for SCE or MN. Age, sex, or time since test did not affect the predictive value of CA. This predictivity was seen irrespective of whether the subjects had been smokers or occupationally exposed to carcinogenic agents. Risk factors such as age, smoking and occupational exposures usually explain only some of the interindividual variation in CA frequency. It seems reasonable that not yet identified individual susceptibility factors explain a large fraction of the interindividual CA variation and also the cancer predictivity of the CA biomarker.     

长期接触贫铀对大鼠遗传毒性的初步研究

目的研究贫铀植入/摄入3个月后对大鼠的毒性作用.方法观察大鼠精子畸形率,骨髓微核率的改变,睾丸的超微结构和病理形态学改变以及采用显性致死突变试验观察贫铀对大鼠的生殖毒性.结果植入/摄入贫铀后大鼠精子畸形率和微核率均有增加,睾丸超微结构均有不同程度的改变,而病理形态学观察则未见显著影响.植入组大鼠受孕率明显低于对照组.结论贫铀长时间暴露可对大鼠产生生殖毒性损害以及超微结构的损伤.     

Effect of North American ginseng on 137Cs-induced micronuclei in human lymphocytes: a comparison with WR-1065

To explore the radioprotective effect of a standardized North American ginseng extract (NAGE) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), a micronuclei (MN) assay was conducted in PBL obtained from 12 volunteers. NAGE (50-1000 microg/mL) and WR-1065 (1 mM and 3 mM) were applied to PBL cultures at 0 h and 90 min post-irradiation. It was found that (1) the baseline MN yield of PBL ranged from 14.4 +/- 1.5 to 15.9 +/- 1.5 per 1000 binucleated cells (p > 0.05); after irradiation (1 Gy and 2 Gy), the MN yield increased sharply; (2) MN yields declined with increasing concentrations of NAGE and WR-1065. Even at 90 min post-irradiation of 1 Gy, the maximum level of MN reduction rate caused by NAGE and WR-1065 was 53.8% and 59.2%, respectively; after 2 Gy irradiation, it was 37.3% and 42%, respectively; (3) the MN distribution in PBL followed a non-Poisson distribution in all cases; and (4) both NAGE and WR-1065 showed no significant effect on the proliferation index of lymphocytes. The results indicate that NAGE is a relatively non-toxic natural product, which can be administered as a dietary supplement and has the potential to be a radiation countermeasure.     

Micronuclei Formation by Promutagens in Metabolism-Incompetent V79 Cells Interacting With Activation-Proficient Cells in Various Experimental Settings

The accessibility of reactive metabolites to test cells is critical for a genotoxic response. However, sulfo-conjugates formed outside may not readily enter cells, and some metabolites formed by cytochromes P450 (CYPs) may not endure transport. This topic was addressed in the present study, using V79 cells engineered for human CYPs and/or a sulfotransferase (SULT). First, 1-methylpyrene, 1-hydroxymethylpyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, and aflatoxin B1 significantly induced micronuclei in V79-hCYP1A2-hSULT1A1, V79-hSULT1A1, V79-hCYP1A1, and V79-hCYP1A2 cells, respectively. Subsequently, we used these cell lines as external activating systems in various experimental settings in combination with V79-derived target cells lacking critical enzymes. 1-Methylpyrene (activated by CYPs and SULTs sequentially) showed an activity similar to that in V79-hCYP1A2-hSULT1A1 cells, in each following model: a mixed V79-hCYP1A2:V79-hSULT1A1 (1:1) culture, exposure of V79-hCYP1A2 to 1-methylpyrene followed by transfer of medium to V79-hSULT1A1 target cells, and V79-hSULT1A1 communicating with V79-hCYP1A2 through 0.4-μm pores and over a 1-mm distance in a unique transwell system. These results suggest ready transfer of 1-hydroxymethylpyrene formed in V79-hCYP1A2 to V79-hSULT1A1 for further activation. In the last two models, with V79-hSULT1A1 for activation and V79-Mz as target, 1-hydroxymethylpyrene induced micronuclei mildly, suggesting limited intercellular transfer of the ultimate genotoxicant, 1-sulfooxymethylpyrene. Benzo[a]pyrene induced micronuclei in V79-Mz communicating with V79-hCYP1A1 via porous membranes, whereas aflatoxin B1 was inactive in V79-Mz communicating with V79-hCYP1A2. Our results suggest that the sulfo-conjugate tested may have difficulty entering cells for a genotoxic effect, and the reactive metabolite of aflatoxin B1, unlike that of benzo[a]pyrene, could not travel an adequate distance to enter cells. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:224–234, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Response of fibroblast cultures from ataxia-telangiectasia patients to reactive oxygen species generated during inflammatory reactions

Cells from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) are more sensitive than cells from normal individuals to a number of compounds which induce DNA damage via oxygen-derived free radical attack. We tested the hypothesis that AT cells would show a sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by activated inflammatory cells. AT cells were exposed to neutro-phils activated with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phor-bol-13-acetate (TPA) or to xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO), an enzyme system which generates superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Induced micronuclei (MN) frequencies (corrected for spontaneous MN frequencies) were significantly higher in AT cell cultures than in cultures from normal individuals (comparison of MN frequencies of AT vs. normal cultures: for treatment with activated neutrophils, P = 0.003; for X/XO, P = 0.05). The comet assay was used to determine whether the elevated chromosomal damage in the treated AT cells was due to a difference in strand breakage or its rejoining. X/XO treatment was used in studies of single-stranded (SS) DNA breakage, and X-ray treatment for double-stranded (DS) DNA damage. AT and normal cells showed no significant differences in the initial levels of SS (P = 0.29) or DS (P = 0.91) DNA damage. Likewise, they exhibited similar rejoining kinetics (rejoining half-time for SS = 10 min, for DS = 30 min). These data support the involvement of the AT loci in determining a cell's ability to deal with oxidative stress, although the mechanism underlying this effect has yet to be resolved. The data also suggest that AT patients are at elevated risk of sustaining DNA damage in tissues undergoing inflammatory reactions. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.