scholarly journals B-Comet Assay (Comet Assay on Buccal Cells) for the Evaluation of Primary DNA Damage in Human Biomonitoring Studies

Author(s):  
Carla Russo ◽  
Mattia Acito ◽  
Cristina Fatigoni ◽  
Milena Villarini ◽  
Massimo Moretti

Many subjects perceive venous blood collection as too invasive, and thus moving to better-accepted procedures for leukocytes collection might be crucial in human biomonitoring studies (e.g., biomonitoring of occupational or residential exposure to genotoxins) management. In this context, primary DNA damage was assessed in buccal lymphocytes (BLs), fresh whole venous, and capillary blood leukocytes, and compared with that in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs)—the most frequently used cells—in 15 young subjects. Mouthwashes were collected after the volunteers rinsed their mouths with normal saline, and BLs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture or by lancet. Anthropometric and lifestyle information was obtained by the administration of a structured questionnaire. As shown in the Bland-Altman plots, the level of agreement between BLs and PBLs lied within the accepted range, we thus enrolled a wider population (n = 54) to assess baseline DNA damage in BLs. In these cells, mean values of tail length (µm), tail intensity (%), and tail moment were 25.7 ± 0.9, 6.7 ± 0.4 and 1.0 ± 0.1, respectively. No significant association was observed between sex and smoking habit with any of the DNA damage parameters. Conversely, underweight subjects displayed significantly higher genomic instability compared with normal weight group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we successfully managed to set up and update a non-invasive and well-accepted procedure for the isolation of BLs from saliva that could be useful in upcoming biomonitoring studies.

2014 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. S87-S88
Author(s):  
Elif Gulsah Karahan ◽  
Ayse Gaye Tomatir ◽  
Ibrahim Acikbas ◽  
Buket Er ◽  
Fatma Evyapan ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 038-041
Author(s):  
Shobha S. Shetty ◽  
Hrishikesh Nachane

Abstract Background: Smoking has been shown to have a positive effect on DNA damage in almost all the cells of the body. Quantitative analysis of this damage will help in assessing the etiopathogenesis of various nicotine induced damage to the body. Comet assay has been an emerging tool in this regard and hence was applied by us to estimate the severity of DNA damage in smokers. Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the DNA genotoxicity in peripheral blood lymphocytes in smokers and their comparison with non smokers & assess the quantitative damage. Materials and methods: 30 smokers & 20 non smokers were recruited & their peripheral blood was taken for the comet assay to look for Olive moment & Tail moment to quantitatively assess the DNA damage due to cigarette smoking. Results: In our study there was no significant difference in the analysis of DNA damage (with regard to tail moment & olive moment) in smokers versus non smokers (P value: more than 0.05). Conclusions: Though smoking is known to cause DNA damage, we did not find significant differences between the two groups probably due to other multifactorial etiologies for genotoxicity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-21
Author(s):  
Nataliya S. Averianova ◽  
Liliya A. Kara ◽  
Olga V. Egorova ◽  
Nataliya A. Ilyushina

Introduction. The study of the potential negative effects of combinations of several pesticide active ingredients is an important and understudied area of toxicological and hygienic research. The initial phase of the genotoxicant action on the genetic structures in cells is the primary DNA damage, the identification of which makes it possible to assess the early stages of the genotoxic effect of xenobiotics and their mixtures. The DNA comet assay is widely used for these purposes. The aim of the research is to assess the primary DNA damage under the combined action of pesticides. Materials and methods. To assess DNA damage the experiments on CD-1 mice of both sexes were performed using alkaline comet analysis. The concentration of active products reacting with thiobarbituric acid (TBA) in the blood serum of white outbred rats was assessed as a marker of lipid peroxidation. Results. It was found that mixtures of 2,4-D-acid + glyphosate and thiram + carbendazim did not cause the formation of breaks and alkali-labile sites in the DNA of mice bone marrow cells. Exposure to the combination of the technical grade active ingredients captan and fludioxonil induced the breaks and alkali-labile sites in the DNA of animal bone marrow cells. The comparison of the genotoxicity assessment results obtained by the comet assay and results of analysis of the TBA-active product concentrations in the rat blood serum suggests that the observed primary DNA damage upon exposure to the captan and fludioxonil combination can be mediated by the induction of lipid peroxidation and subsequent interaction of the resulting products with nucleic acids. Conclusion. The results indicate that some pesticides in combination can damage hereditary material in mammalian cells. Therefore, in order to ensure the safe use of pesticides for public health it is necessary to take into account the data on the genotoxicity not only of individual pesticide technical grade active ingredients but also their combinations.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10641-10641 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Franke ◽  
M. Agnoletto ◽  
J. Saffi ◽  
T. Guecheva

10641 Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and its rate of mortality is still high. The increase knowledge of breast cancer biology is heaving great impact on determining the clinical prognosis and response to treatment. Impaired DNA repair may elevate the risk of malignant transformation of breast cells due to the accumulation of spontaneous mutations in target genes and increasing susceptibility to exogenous carcinogens. The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between DNA damage and expression of some critical genes including TP53, c-ERBB2, ER (Estrogen Receptor) and PR (Progesterone Receptor) in breast cancer. Blood samples were obtained from female patients with diagnosed breast cancer before chemotherapy as well as from healthy individuals, and were processed in 24 hours. To evaluate the role of DNA repair in breast cancer we determined the level of DNA damage and the capacity to remove DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in the peripheral blood lymphocytes. For this purpose the alkaline version of the comet assay, which provides a sensitive tool to investigate DNA damage and repair, was applied. The level of basal DNA damage was higher in breast cancer patients compared to the control group. Considerable inter-individual variations of DNA damage and repair in breast cancer patients were observed both before and after the treatment. The correlation between DNA damage in peripheral blood and expression of p53, c-erbB-2, PR and ER was analyzed. This preliminary study indicates that the DNA damage accumulation, observed in peripheral blood lymphocytes of breast cancer patients in early stages, could be attributed to impaired DNA repair. Our results suggest that DNA damage, as evaluated by the comet assay, seems to be useful molecular biomarker for monitoring ongoing exposures to DNA damaging agents. Such a research on the mutagen sensitivity and efficacy of DNA repair could impact on the development of new diagnostic and screening strategies. Work Supported by FAPERGS and GENOTOX (UFRGS). No significant financial relationships to disclose.


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