This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Virag, P Articles by Cernea, V Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Virag, P Articles by Cernea, V Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Comparative study of two evaluation methods for the genotoxic effects of environmental heavy metals on normal cells

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania vpiroska{at}yahoo.com

I Brie

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ID Postescu

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

M Perde-Schrepler

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

E Fischer-Fodor

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

O Soritau

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

A Irimie

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

V Cernea

"Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta" Cancer Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Genetic modifications caused by chronic exposure to low levels of toxic metals may activate stress-signaling pathways, thus increasing cancer incidence among affected individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between exposure to heavy metals and the incidence of chromosomal aberrations and DNA lesions in a chronically exposed population by using specific biomarkers. The study included 156 subjects divided into two major groups: exposed individuals (in a heavy metal contaminated region, Maramures, Romania) and non-exposed population, as control group (Cluj, Romania). We compared the results of two cytogenetic methods for the detection and quantification of DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations in normal human cells: Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis or Comet assay and Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus assay. The methods were performed on lymphocytes isolated from whole blood in density gradient. The basal DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations were evaluated, as well as the repair capacity of the supplementary lesions induced by genotoxic agents such as ionizing radiations. Our results showed a great interindividual variability in the basal level of the DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations, between and within the groups, the most affected being the heavy metals-exposed groups. Non-exposed subjects from rural area Cluj appeared to be more susceptible to the induction of supplementary DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations by irradiation. The most efficient repair capacity of the radio-induced DNA lesions was observed in the non-exposed Cluj urban group. Both cytogenetic assays (as tools for detection of DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations) may be used in human biomonitoring studies as indicators of early biological effects induced by exposure to heavy metals.

Key Words: chromosomal aberrations • comet assay • DNA lesions • metal carcinogenesis • micronucleus assay

Toxicology and Industrial Health, Vol. 25, No. 4-5, 253-258 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0748233709103411


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?