Detection of genotoxic effects in human gastric and nasal mucosa cells isolated from biopsy samples

To assess genotoxic burdens from chemicals, it is necessary to relate observations in experimental animals to humans. The success of this extrapolation would be increased by including data on chemical activities in human tissues. Therefore, we have developed techniques to assess DNA damage in human gastric and nasal mucosa (GM, NM) cells. Biopsy samples were obtained during gastroscopy from macroscopically healthy tissue of the stomach or from healthy nasal epithelia during surgery. The specimens were incubated for 30–45 min at 37°C with a digestive solution. We obtained 1.5–8 × 10⁶ GM cells and 5–10 × 10⁵ NM cells per donor, both with viabilities of 80–95%. The cells were incubated in vitro for 1 hr at 37°C with the test compounds added in their appropriate solvents. In GM cells, we studied N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), sodium dichromate (Na₂Cr₂O₇), nickel sulphate (NiSO₄), cadmium sulphate (CdSO₄), and lindane. In NM cells, lindane was investigated. Each compound was assessed for DNA damaging activity in cells of at least three different human donor samples using the microgel single cell assay. Similar studies were performed with GM and NM cells obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats. We have found human GM cells to be more sensitive to the genotoxic activity of MNNG than rat GM cells (low effective concentration [LEC] = 0.16 and 0.625 μg/ml for human and rat, respectively). Human cells were also more sensitive to the cytotoxic/genotoxic activity of NiSO₄ (LEC = 5 and 19 μmoles/ml for human and rat, respectively). CdSO₄ was genotoxic in human GM cells (LEC = 0.03–0.125 μmoles/ml), whereas no dose-related genotoxicity was observed in rat GM at concentrations up to 0.5 μmoles/ml. In contrast, approximately equal responses regarding genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were observed in rat and human GM for Na₂Cr₂O₇ (0.25–1 μmoles/ml). Lindane, however, was genotoxic in three out of four rat GM but not in human GM cells (0.5–1 μmoles/ml), whereas it was active in both rat and human NM cells. Together with other recently published in vivo findings, our results with lindane can be interpreted according to a parallelogram approach. In view of possible human exposure situations and the sensitivities of the two target tissues from both species, the data imply that lindane will pose a health risk to humans by inhalation but not by ingestion. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Repetitive exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles induces dna damage in human nasal mucosa mini organ cultures

Data on the toxicological properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) is incomplete. ZnO-NPs may enter humans via inhalation or ingestion. The aim of the current study was to evaluate ZnO-NP-induced genotoxicity in three-dimensional (3D) mini organ cultures (MOCs) of human nasal mucosa following repeated exposure to ZnO-NP and regeneration. Nasal MOCs of 10 patients and ZnO-NPs were cultivated for one week and then characterized by electron microscopy. Nasal MOCs were partially covered by ciliated epithelium after one week of cultivation. ZnO-NPs were distributed to the cytoplasm and the nucleus. MOCs were exposed once, twice, or three times to 0.1 or 5 μg/ml of ZnO-NPs for 1 hr per exposure and were then evaluated for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. MOCs were cultivated for 24 hr after the triple ZnO-NP exposure to allow for regeneration. ZnO-NP exposure did not result in significant cytotoxicity or apoptosis, as determined by trypan blue exclusion and caspase-3 activity, respectively. A significant increase in DNA damage was detected following repetitive exposure compared to single exposure to ZnO-NPs at 5 μg/ml, but not 0.1 μg/ml ZnO-NPs. At both concentrations of ZnO-NP, DNA fragmentation increased after 24 hr of regeneration. In contrast, DNA damage which was induced by the positive control, methyl methanesulfonate, was significantly reduced after 24-hr regeneration. Thus, our results suggest that repetitive exposure to low concentrations of ZnO-NPs results in persistent or ongoing DNA damage.     

Carbon nanotubes induce oxidative DNA damage in RAW 264.7 cells

The induction of DNA and chromosome damage following in vitro exposure to carbon nanotubes (CNT) was assessed on the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 by means of the micronucleus (MN) and the comet assays. Exposures to two CNT preparations (single‐walled CNT (SWCNT > 90%) and multiwalled CNT (MWCNT > 90%) were performed in increasing mass concentrations (0.01–100 μg/ml). The frequency of micronuclei was significantly increased in cells treated with SWCNT (at doses above 0.1 μg/ml), whereas MWCNT had the same effect at higher concentrations (1 μg/ml) (P < 0.05). The results of the comet assay revealed that the effects of treatment with SWCNT were detectable at all concentrations tested (1–100 μg/ml); oxidized purines increased significantly, whereas pyrimidines showed a significant increase (P < 0.001) only at the highest concentration (100 μg/ml). In cells treated with MWCNT, an increase in DNA migration due to the oxidative damage to purines was observed at a concentration of 1 and 10 μg/ml, whereas pyrimidines showed a significant increase only at the highest mass concentration tested. However, both SWCNT and MWCNT induced a statistically significant cytotoxic effect at the highest concentrations tested (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that both the MN and comet assays can reliably detect small amount of damaged DNA at both chromosome and nuclear levels in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, the modified version of the comet assay allows the specific detection of the induction of oxidative damage to DNA, which may be the underlying mechanism involved in the CNT‐associated genotoxicity. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Antigenotoxic potential of Gymnema montanum leaves on DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and HL‐60 cell line

In this study we have evaluated the genoprotective effect of the ethanol extract of Gymnema montanum (GLEt) leaves in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and HL‐60 cell line in vitro using the comet assay. DNA damage was induced by treating the cells with H₂O₂ and methyl methane sulphonate (MMS). GLEt treatment effectively protected the lymphocytes and HL‐60 cell line from H₂O₂‐induced oxidative DNA damage in a dose‐dependent manner whereas it was not effective against alkylative DNA damage caused by MMS. The global percent repair efficiency also showed that both pre‐ and post‐ GLEt treatment provided effective protection against H₂O₂ induced DNA damage but not as effective against MMS. At 200 μg ml^?1 level, its repair capacity against H₂O₂ induced DNA damage was comparable to that of vitamin‐C (100 μM). Furthermore, exposure to GLEt reduced the formation of apoptotic cells caused by H₂O₂, which was demonstrated by the decreased sub‐G1‐DNA content in cell cycle analysis and apoptotic frequencies of lymphocytes in an annexin‐V binding assay. In addition, GLEt was found to have effective peroxide scavenging ability in dose‐dependent manner. The protective efficiency of the extract was found to be directly proportional to its total phenolic content. The present study indicates that G. montanum leaves are a significant source of phytochemicals with antigenotoxic and antioxidant activity, and thus has potential therapeutic use. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

DNA damage and repair in human lymphocytes and gastric mucosa cells exposed to chromium and curcumin.

Human population can be considered as a subject of combined exposure to chemicals. Hexavalent chromium is a well-known mutagen and carcinogen. Curcumin, a popular spice and pigment, is reported to have antineoplastic properties. The single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) is a sensitive technique that allows detecting double- and single-strand DNA breaks caused by a broad spectrum of mutagens. In the present work the ability of curcumin to reduce DNA damage induced by chromium in human lymphocytes and gastric mucosa (GM) cells was investigated by using the comet assay. Chromium at 500 microM evoked DNA damage measured as significant (P < 0.001), about a two-fold increase in comet tail moment of both lymphocytes and GM cells. Curcumin at 10, 25, and 50 microM also damaged DNA of both types of cells in a dose-dependent manner: the increase in the tail moment reached about twenty times of the control value (P < 0.001). The combined action of chromium at 500 microM and curcumin at 50 microM resulted in the significant (P < 0.001) increase in the comet tail moment of both types of cells. In each case, treated cells were able to recover within 60 min. Our study clearly demonstrates that curcumin does not inhibit DNA damaging action of hexavalent chromium in human lymphocytes and GM cells. Moreover, curcumin itself can damage DNA of these cells and the total effect of chromium and curcumin is additive. Further studies are needed to establish the role of interaction of curcumin with DNA in carcinogenesis.     

In vitro induction of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes of the oyster toadfish and american eel

A series of experiments was conducted to characterize the proliferation of oyster toadfish lymphocytes in medium containing 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and to determine the effectiveness of cytogenetic endpoints for assessing the genotoxic effects of in vitro exposure of toadfish and eel lymphocytes to known mammalian clastogens. Although the rate of proliferation of toadfish lymphocytes was low compared to that of mammalian lymphocytes, the effects of increasing BrdUrd concentrations were similar, in that proliferation exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition for concentrations above 10 μM BrdUrd, and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies exhibited a concentration-dependent increase for concentrations above 100 μM BrdUrd. Mitomycin C (MMC) and ethylene dibromide (EDB) induced concentration-dependent increases in chromatid-type exchange and SCE frequencies with least effective concentrations (control SCE frequency divided by the slope of the least-squares line) for SCE induction by MMC (6.8 × 10^?9 M) and EDB (2.6 × 10^?4 M) that were comparable to or slightly lower than those that have been obtained with mammalian in vitro systems. In vitro exposure of toadfish lymphocytes to dimethoate (DIM) induced a concentration-dependent increase in SCE frequency with a least effective concentration of 2.8 × 10^?3 M that was much higher than that observed with mammalian in vitro systems. In vitro exposure of American eel lymphocytes to MMC also induced a concentration-dependent increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and SCEs with a least effective concentration for SCE induction of 2.0 × 10^?9 M. These results indicate that cytogenetic endpoints can be effectively scored with cultured lymphocytes from these and perhaps other fish species with comparable karyotypes that contain an average of at least 0.07 pg DNA/chromosome.     

Inhibitory effect of ascorbic acid post-treatment on radiation-induced chromosomal damage in human lymphocytes in vitro

In the present study, the effect of exposure to ascorbic acid (vitamin C) after gamma-ray-induced chromosomal damage in cultured human lymphocytes was examined to explore the mechanism by which this antioxidant vitamin protects irradiated cells Non-irradiated lymphocytes were exposed to increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid (1-100 micro g/ml) and DNA damage was estimated using chromosomal aberration analysis and the comet assay. The results showed that ascorbic acid did not influence the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in non-irradiated cells, except at the highest concentration (20 micro g/ml), which induced breakage-type chromosomal aberrations. Vitamin C at the concentration of 50 micro g/ml caused DNA damage detected by the comet assay. A significant (34%) decrease in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was observed in lymphocytes exposed to gamma-radiation and then cultured in the presence of ascorbic acid (1 micro g/ml). The removal of DNA breaks in cells exposed to 2 Gy of gamma-radiation was accelerated in the presence of ascorbic acid as determined by the comet assay, suggesting that it may stimulate DNA repair processes.     

重组人可溶性CD40配体对树突状细胞体外分化、成熟及功能的影响

用Ficoll密度离心及贴壁法获得外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC ) ,PBMC经细胞因子组合诱导分化成树突状细胞 (DC ) :GM CSF (10 0ng/ml)与IL 4 (5 0ng/ml)诱导 5d后 ,分别加入TNF α (10ng/ml)或rhsCD4 0L (2 μg/ml)继续培养 4d ;倒置显微镜下观察DC形态 ,免疫荧光标记和流式细胞术分析DC表型 (CD1a、CD80、CD83、HLA DR、CD14、CD16、CD19)及摄取FITC Dextran抗原的能力 ;3 H TdR掺入法检测DC刺激自体混合淋巴细胞体外增殖反应 (MLR )能力 ;ELISA法分析DC培养上清中IL 12的水平 ;Trans well细胞趋化实验检测DC对自体外周T淋巴细胞的趋化能力。发现经rhsCD4 0L刺激的DC表面分子 (CD1a、CD80、CD83、HLA DR )的表达水平高于经典的细胞因子组合组 (GM CSF +IL 4 +TNF α ) ,同时rhsCD4 0L刺激后的DC摄取FITC Dextran的能力下降而刺激自体MLR和分泌IL 12的能力明显提高 ;而且rhsCD4 0L诱导的DC表面趋化因子受体CXCR4的表达水平及对自体外周T淋巴细胞的趋化能力均强于TNF α或FL激发的DC。rhsCD4 0L在体外不仅具有显著的诱导DC分化 ,促进DC成熟的功能 ,而且经rhsCD4 0L作用的DC能更有效地激发T淋巴细胞     

Characteristics of mutations generated through digestion with restriction enzyme and ligation in plasmid DNA

Chronic exposure of hepatocytes to reactive nitrogen species (RNS) following liver injury and inflammation leads not only to functional and morphological alterations in the liver but also to degenerative liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previously, we showed that S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine-amine (SNAP), which generates nitric oxide, and 3-morpholinosydnonimine (Sin-1), which generates equal molar concentrations of superoxide and nitric oxide resulting in peroxynitrite production, exhibited different levels of cytotoxicity to normal human hepatocytes in culture. The aim of the present study was to elucidate some of the molecular and cellular pathways leading to hepatocyte cell death induced by RNS. Following treatment of the hepatocytes with SNAP or Sin-1, gene-specific DNA damage was measured in mtDNA and a hprt gene fragment using a quantitative Southern blot analysis. Both agents induced dose-dependent increases in DNA damage that was alkaline labile, but not sensitive to both formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (fpg) and endonuclease III, which recognize 8-oxoguanine, thymine glycol, and other oxidized pyrimidines. DNA damage was two- to fivefold greater in mtDNA than in the hprt gene fragment. There was a persistent and marked increase in DNA damage posttreatment that appeared to arise from the disruption of electron transport in the mitochondria, generating reactive species that saturated the repair system. DNA damage induced by Sin-1 and SNAP led to cell-cycle arrest in the S-phase, growth inhibition, and apoptosis. The data support the hypothesis that the functional and morphological changes observed in liver following chronic exposure to RNS are, in part, the result of persistent mitochondrial and nuclear DNA damage.     

Hydroxyurea induces chromosomal damage in G2 and enhances the clastogenic effect of mitomycin C in Fanconi anemia cells

Fanconi's anemia (FA) is a recessive disease; 16 genes are currently recognized in FA. FA proteins participate in the FA/BRCA pathway that plays a crucial role in the repair of DNA damage induced by crosslinking compounds. Hydroxyurea (HU) is an agent that induces replicative stress by inhibiting ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), which synthesizes deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) necessary for DNA replication and repair. HU is known to activate the FA pathway; however, its clastogenic effects are not well characterized. We have investigated the effects of HU treatment alone or in sequential combination with mitomycin‐C (MMC) on FA patient‐derived lymphoblastoid cell lines from groups FA‐A, B, C, D1/BRCA2, and E and on lymphocytes from two unclassified FA patients. All FA cells showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in chromosomal aberrations following treatment with HU during the last 3 h before mitosis. Furthermore, when FA cells previously exposed to MMC were treated with HU, we observed an increase of MMC‐induced DNA damage that was characterized by high occurrence of DNA breaks and a reduction in rejoined chromosomal aberrations. These findings show that exposure to HU during G2 induces chromosomal aberrations by a mechanism that is independent of its well‐known role in replication fork stalling during S‐phase and that HU interfered mainly with the rejoining process of DNA damage. We suggest that impaired oxidative stress response, lack of an adequate amount of dNTPs for DNA repair due to RNR inhibition, and interference with cell cycle control checkpoints underlie the clastogenic activity of HU in FA cells. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56:457–467, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Suppression by Human Placental Protein 14 of Natural Killer Cell Activity

ABSTRACT: Human decidua of early pregnancy contains considerable numbers of CD3^? CD56⁺ natural killer (NK) cells. In this study, two major protein products of the decidua, placental protein 14 (PP14) and placental protein 12 (PP12), were tested for the ability to regulate human NK cell activity. In vitro overnight exposure to PP14 of blood lymphocytes or purified large granular lymphocytes (LGL) resulted in suppression of cytotoxicity against K562 target cells in a 4-h ⁵¹Cr release assay. The NK inhibition was dependent on concentrations of PP14, being detectable at 5 μg/ml and reaching maximum at 50 μg/ml. Manifestation of PP14-induced NK suppression required 18-h contact with NK cells. The suppression of NK activity by PP14 was not abolished by indomethacin. In a target binding assay the number of PP14-treated LGL binding to K562 was comparable to that of untreated ones. By contrast with PP14, PP12 produced no effects on NK cells. These results indicate that PP14 suppresses the function of NK cells, which might be involved in prevention of maternal immune rejection of fetus at the fetomaternal interface.     

A comparison of DNA repair synthesis in primary hepatocytes from young and old rats

DNA repair synthesis has been compared in primary hepatocyte cultures obtained from 3-month-old and 16-20-month-old rats. Several morphological and metabolic characteristics were determined to assure cultures of comparable quality. DNA damage was induced by the addition of bleomycin or the exposure of the culture to UV irradiation. DNA repair (unscheduled DNA synthesis) was determined by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation. After UV irradiation, there was almost twice as much [3H]thymidine incorporation in cells obtained from young rats as in those obtained from old rats. Equal amounts of bleomycin resulted in substantially greater damage to DNA in cells from old rats than from young rats. For equal amounts of DNA damage there was again diminished [3H]thymidine incorporation in cells obtained from old rats. Finally equal amounts of bleomycin resulted in equal damage to DNA when the bleomycin was added to isolated rat liver nuclei from young or old rats. Bleomycin treated nuclei from young rats incorporated substantially more [3H]thymidine triphosphate (TTP) than bleomycin treated nuclei from old rats. The results indicate that hepatocytes from old rats are much more susceptible to bleomycin than hepatocytes from young rats and that the capacity for DNA repair synthesis is impaired in hepatocytes from old rats.     

Investigation of the genotoxic effect of pesticides on greenhouse workers' lymphocytes

In the present study, the genotoxic effects of commonly applied pesticides were evaluated using the alkaline comet assay (pH > 13). The amount of DNA damage (% DNA in tail) in peripheral lymphocytes of 49 male agricultural workers from Southern Poland were measured and compared to 50 men from the same area who had no previous occupational exposure to pesticides. No statistically significant differences in basal DNA damage were found between the study groups. In addition, exposure of peripheral blood lymphocytes to hydrogen peroxide (100 and 150 μM) or γ‐irradiation (2.5 or 4.2 Gy) led to a similar degree of additional DNA damage and subsequent repair (for 2 hr) for all studied populations. In conclusion, our results indicate that the greenhouse workers who participated in this study had no detectable increased DNA damage or alteration in their cellular response to DNA damage in comparison to our control population. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Detection of MNNG-induced DNA lesions in mammalian cells; validation of comet assay against DNA unwinding technique,alkaline elution of DNA and chromosomal aberrations

Human cells (VH10 or Hep G2) and hamster cells V79 were exposed to different concentrations of N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and the level of DNA lesions was evaluated by the DNA unwinding technique, alkaline elution of DNA and the comet assay. All three methods were able to detect the effects of MNNG but with a clear difference in sensitivity. At low concentrations of MNNG the most sensitive method appeared to be the comet assay. After the short-term treatment the comet assay was able to detect the lesions induced by MNNG at approx. 0.1 μg/ml, alkaline elution of DNA at 1 μg/ml and DNA unwinding at 1–2 μg/ml. MNNG treated VH10 cells, human lymphocytes and V79 cells were also tested cytogenetically, confirming that MNNG induced chromosomal aberrations at concentrations >1 μg/ml in VH10 cells (short-term treatment); >0.2 μg/ml in V79 cells (long-term treatment) and >8 μg/ml in human lymphocytes (long-term treatment). In some experiments we tried to increase the level of MNNG-induced DNA breaks with help of DNA repair inhibitors cytosine arabinoside (Ara C) and hydroxyurea (HU) which were applied either after or during MNNG treatment. Our results showed that the level of MNNG-induced lesions was increased by simultaneous treatment of cells with MNNG and Ara C and HU. 2×10⁻⁵ M Ara C and 2×10⁻³ M HU were as effective as 10-times higher concentrations of inhibitors. Ara C and HU increased the level of MNNG-induced DNA breaks mainly in combination with lower concentrations of MNNG (<2 μg/ml). Rejoining of DNA breaks was observed in human cells VH10 and Hep G2 as well as in Chinese hamster cells V79 damaged by both lower and higher MNNG-concentrations. All methods showed that MNNG-induced DNA breaks had been gradually rejoined.     

Oxidative DNA damage and cytogenetic effects in flight engineers exposed to cosmic radiation

This study set out to analyze biomarkers for genotoxic events, e.g., oxidative DNA damage, chromosomal damage and hprt mutations, among flight personnel, who are known to be occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation of cosmic origin. Twenty-three flight engineers were recruited while ground personnel served as a matched control group. Cumulative radiation doses during flight were calculated on the basis of subjects' flight records assuming an exposure rate of 6 μSv per hour of flight. Oxidative DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes from flight engineers appeared significantly increased in comparison with controls and was associated with cumulative exposure to cosmic radiation. Frequencies of peripheral lymphocyte chromosome aberrations, micronuclei and hprt mutations appeared also to be increased in flight engineers, but not significantly. It was also observed that DNA damage was higher in flight engineers with a relatively shorter flight history in comparison with flight engineers with higher cumulative exposures to radiation, suggesting adaptation to DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. DNA repair activities measured as unscheduled DNA synthesis were clearly increased in the higher-exposed subgroup of flight engineers, and appeared significantly correlated with cumulative radiation dose, as well as inversely with oxidative DNA damage. The implications for cancer risk assessment in relation to exposure to cosmic radiation are discussed. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 32:121–129, 1998 © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mitogen-induced lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro: effect of mitogens selectively activating T or B cells

Concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) are selective T cell mitogens, whereas lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) are selective B cell mitogens. Con A and PHA induced mouse lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro, which was equally expressed on autologous, allogeneic and heterologous target fibroblasts, as measured by thymidine release from prelabeled targets. The dose response curves of Con A-induced lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity and DNA synthesis were parallel, 5 μg/ml being optimal, both higher and lower concentrations being less effective. Con A pretreated mouse lymphocytes failed to express cytotoxicity even though they were irreversibly activated with regard to DNA synthesis and were morphologically transformed. However, when Con A pretreated lymphocytes were added to target fibroblasts in the presence of soluble Con A, the cytotoxic effect markedly exceeded that induced by Con A in non-pretreated lymphocytes. It is suggested that cytotoxicity not only requires close contact between target and aggressor lymphocyte, but actual binding of the lymphocyte to the target, in this case effectuated by Con A. Con A and PHA failed to induce lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in B lymphocytes. LPS and PPD did not induce cytotoxicity in normal or in B lymphccytes. Even LPS or PPD pretreated B lymphocytes failed to exert cytotoxicity when aggregated to the targets by Con A. It is suggested that the lymphocytes responsive to LPS and PPD are not the non-T cells responsible for cell-mediated cytotoxicity on antibody-coated target cells. Con A and PHA, but not LPS and PPD, induced lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in human lymphocytes on allogeneic and heterologous target fibroblasts. The dose response curves for induction of cytotoxicity and DNA synthesis by Con A were not always identical in this case, cytotoxicity persisting at low Con A concentrations, which failed to activate DNA synthesis.     

山稔子提取物对体外DNA氧化性损伤的保护作用

目的观察山稔子提取物对原代体外培养淋巴细胞DNA氧化损伤的保护作用。方法原代培养24h的脾淋巴细胞悬液,随机分为7组,其中5组细胞用不同浓度的山稔子提取物溶液预先处理60min,再加入50μmol/L的H2O2,H2O2染毒组直接加入相同浓度的H2O2,空白对照组加入等量的PBS溶液,7组细胞共同在4℃下染毒20min,收获细胞同时进行单细胞凝胶电泳,计算DNA迁移的细胞率和总彗星长度。结果H2O2可致原代培养脾淋巴细胞的DNA严重损伤,而山稔子提取物能不同程度地降低H2O2诱导产生的DNA损伤,在10、50、100μg/mL的浓度下,彗星细胞出现率从阳性对照组的100%分别降低为85%、65%和30%（P分别〈0.05、0.01、0.01）,总彗星长度也从对照组的（52.82±6.42）μm,逐渐降低为（43.68±5.59）μm、（35.80±8.75）μm、（25.35±4.32）μm（P分别〈0.05、0.01、0.01）。结论山稔子提取物具有抗氧化作用,能在一定浓度范围内保护细胞显著降低氧自由基对DNA的氧化损伤。     

The in vitro genotoxic effects of a commercial formulation of α‐cypermethrin in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

α‐Cypermethrin, a highly active pyrethroid insecticide, is effective against a wide range of insects encountered in agriculture and animal husbandry. The potential genotoxicity of a commercial formulation of α‐cypermethrin (Fastac 100 EC, containing 10% α‐cypermethrin as the active ingredient) on human peripheral lymphocytes was examined in vitro by sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosomal aberrations (CAs), and micronucleus (MN) tests. The human lymphocytes were treated with 5, 10, 15, and 20 μg/ml of α‐cypermethrin for 24‐ and 48‐hr. α‐Cypermethrin induced SCEs and CAs significantly at all concentrations and treatment times and MN formation was significantly induced at 5 and 10 μg/ml of α‐cypermethrin when compared with both the control and solvent control. Binuclear cells could not be detected sufficiently in the highest two concentration of α‐cypermethrin (15 and 20 μg/ml) for both the 24‐ and 48‐hr treatment times. α‐Cypermethrin decreased the proliferation index (PI) at three high concentrations (10, 15, and 20 μg/ml) for both treatment periods as compared with the control groups. In addition, α‐cypermethrin reduced both the mitotic index (MI) and nuclear division index (NDI) significantly at all concentrations for two treatment periods. The PI and MI were reduced by α‐cypermethrin in a concentration‐dependent manner during both treatment times. In general, α‐cypermethrin showed higher cytotoxic and cytostatic effects than positive control (MMC) at the two highest concentrations for the 24‐ and 48‐hr treatment periods. The present study is the first to report the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of commercial formulation of α‐cypermethrin in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Influence of genetic polymorphisms on biomarkers of exposure and genotoxic effects in styrene-exposed workers

A study on 44 workers exposed to styrene and 44 matched referents was performed in order to examine the influence of genetic polymorphisms in biotransformation and DNA repair enzymes on the levels of N-terminal hemoglobin adducts and genotoxicity biomarkers. Urinary mandelic acid concentration averaged 201.57 mg/g creatinine +/-148.32 in exposed workers, corresponding to a calculated average airborne styrene exposure of 9.5 ppm +/-9.6. Individuals with a high level of N-terminal valine adducts had higher levels of DNA damage, as evaluated by the Comet assay (r = 0.29, P = 0.008). Frequencies of micronucleated mononucleated lymphocytes (MNMC) (0.71 +/- 0.88 vs 0.11 +/- 0.20, P<0.0001), micronucleated binucleated lymphocytes (MNBC) (3.93 +/- 2.75 vs 2.65 +/- 1.94, p = 0.02) and micronucleated nasal epithelial cells (0.52 +/- 0.49 vs 0.23 +/- 0.31, p = 0.04) differed significantly between the exposed and referent groups. In the whole group of 88 individuals, higher frequencies of MNMC were found in individuals possessing the XRCC3 Met(241) allele and those individuals with the XRCC1 Gln( (399) ) allele showed higher frequencies of MNMC and MNCB. In vitro DNA repair capacity, as measured by residual DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood leukocytes after a styrene oxide challenge, was also influenced by styrene exposure, with an apparent induction of early repair mechanisms associated with the intensity of recent exposure and a reduction of late (24 h) repair capacity that was associated with the duration of employment. After 1 h of repair, lower levels of residual DNA damage were found in individuals possessing GSTT1 (P = 0.043). After 24 h of repair, lower residual DNA damage was found in individuals homozygous for XRCC1 Arg(194) (P = 0.013). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the duration of exposure, smoking habits and polymorphisms of XRCC1 at codon 399 were important variables affecting the genotoxic responses. Our data suggest that DNA damage is formed in workers exposed to low concentrations of styrene, and that genotypes of metabolising and DNA-repair genes are important for the assessment of individual genotoxic risk to styrene. The in vitro DNA repair phenotype assay might be a valuable method to estimate the susceptibility of workers.     

Restitution of chromatid and isochromatid breaks induced in the G2 phase by actinomycin D

Although actinomycin D (AMD) appears to cause chromatid breakage, it has been suggested that it merely weakens the chromosomal proteins, causing breaks to occur during the stress of fixation. To determine if this was true, we examined lymphocytes treated with AMD (3.5 μg/ml) for 90 min prior to harvesting for evidence of DNA repair. Besides single chromatid breaks, we observed a high frequency of chromatid exchange figures (translocations, inversions, rings) and closed isochromatid breaks, indicating that a type of DNA repair leading to chromosome aberrations had occurred prior to cell fixation. Therefore, at least some of the breaks observed after AMD treatment in G₂ represented true DNA damage and were not merely artifacts of fixation.