Effect of Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism on genome instability in children living in Russian Arctic

Main risks of arterial hypertension manifest in childhood. Children living in the Far North are especially susceptible to this. There is a need for an inexpensive, non-invasive and simple diagnosis of the risk of childhood pathologies. It was previously found that the genotype DD of the in/del polymorphic marker of the ACE gene is found in people at risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies. Buccal micronucleus cytome assay and genetic analysis were used in the work. In total, 77 schoolchildren from the city of Apatity, aged 15-17 years old, were examined. We have shown that carriers of the D allele have a tendency to an increase in the frequency of cells with micronuclei. In the case of homozygous I/I variant, the frequency of occurrence of cells with karyopycnosis is significantly higher than in carriers of allele D. Polymorphic marker in/del of the ACE gene is associated with apoptotic changes in the cells of the studied children. The in/del polymorphic marker of the ACE gene can be used as a prognostic marker of the processes of genome destabilization at the early stages of development of the human body.

Micronuclei and Other Nuclear Anomalies in Exfoliated Buccal Mucosa Cells in Breast Cancer

Objectives: This study designed to assess the genomic instability between healthy women and women with breast cancer by means of buccal cells micronucleus (MN) cytome assay. Methods: The current study comprised 25 healthy women and 30 breast cancer patients. The exfoliated cells of buccal mucosa were taken after each participants rinse their mouths with tap water. The micronucleated cell and nuclear anomalies were analyzed under a total magnification of X1000, 2000 cells per subjects ( patient and control group) were scored and the frequencies of nuclear anomalies including MN, binucleates (BN), Pycnotic cell, karyolysis (KL) and karyorrhexis (KR) were evaluated in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells of women with primary BC and healthy women. Results: The frequencies of micronuclei and all nuclear anomalies in buccal cells of BC patients were significantly increased compared with the controls. (For Binucleates cells only, p<0.001; in all other cases, P < 0.0001). The mean scores of micronuclei and all nuclear anomalies for the breast cancer patients were (10.66±0.3845, 6.20±0.26, 8.40±0. 22, 18.40±0. 34, 19.13 ±0.40) were significantly higher than that of healthy women). Conclusion: Elevated frequency of micronucleated cells and all nuclear anomalies in the buccal mucosa of breast cancer patients reveal the genomic instability. These findings propose that the buccal MN-cytome assay can be used to measure both genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in primary cancer patients.

Cellular Responses Induced by Zinc in Zebra Mussel Haemocytes. Loss of DNA Integrity as a Cellular Mechanism to Evaluate the Suitability of Nanocellulose-Based Materials in Nanoremediation

Zinc environmental levels are increasing due to human activities, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. Therefore, new tools able to remediate Zn contamination in freshwater are highly recommended. Specimens of Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel) were exposed for 48 h and 7 days to a wide range of ZnCl2 nominal concentrations (1–10–50–100 mg/L), including those environmentally relevant. Cellulose-based nanosponges (CNS) were also tested to assess their safety and suitability for Zn removal from freshwater. Zebra mussels were exposed to 50 mg/L ZnCl2 alone or incubated with 1.25 g/L of CNS (2 h) and then removed by filtration. The effect of Zn decontamination induced by CNS has been verified by the acute toxicity bioassay Microtox®. DNA primary damage was investigated by the Comet assay; micronuclei frequency and nuclear morphological alterations were assessed by Cytome assay in mussels’ haemocytes. The results confirmed the genotoxic effect of ZnCl2 in zebra mussel haemocytes at 48 h and 7-day exposure time. Zinc concentrations were measured in CNS, suggesting that cellulose-based nanosponges were able to remove Zn(II) by reducing its levels in exposure waters and soft tissues of D. polymorpha in agreement with the observed restoration of genetic damage exerted by zinc exposure alone.

Buccal Micronucleus Cytome Assay for the assessment health status of population living in the area of nuclear heritage

Introduction. An essential task of hygiene is assessing the health status of the population living in areas with adverse environmental and hygienic conditions. Materials and methods. A study of the health status of 50 children of three age groups was carried out in Dunay city, Primorsky Krai, located near the enterprise “The Far Eastern Center for Radioactive Waste Management, Far East Center “DalRAO.” Health status was assessed using the buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCA) to determine the cytogenetic and cytotoxic effects of environmental factors. Results. The frequency of buccal cells with micronuclei in groups of children from the Dunay city varied within 0.33-0.47‰, which does not exceed the control level of 1.1%, determined within the framework of the international project HMNxl. The level of cytogenetic stress is defined as acceptable (but not low). Given the index of accumulation of cytogenetic damages, it is possible to rank the studied groups according to their cytogenetic status in the direction of deterioration: kindergarten children, older and younger schoolchildren. Conclusion. The approach proposed in this study made it possible to quantitatively determine the mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of factors on the children’s population of the Dunay city. It can be recommended as an informative method for the population health status assessment during socio-hygienic monitoring, including in the territories of nuclear (legacy) sites.

Suitability of Nanoparticles to Face Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Genetic and Chromosomal Damage in M. galloprovincialis. An In Vitro Approach

Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) is a well-known genotoxic agent, the removal of which from environmental matrices is mandatory, necessitating the application of cleaning strategies that are harmless to human and environmental health. The potential application of nanoparticles (NPs) in the remediation of polluted environments is of increasing interest. Here, specifically designed NPs were selected as being non-genotoxic and able to interact with B(a)P, in order to address the genetic and chromosomal damage it produces. A newly formulated pure anatase nano-titanium (nano-TiO2), a commercial mixture of rutile and anatase, and carbon black-derived hydrophilic NPs (HNP) were applied. Once it had been ascertained that the NPs selected for the work did not induce genotoxicity, marine mussel gill biopsies were exposed in vitro to B(a)P (2 μg/mL), alone and in combination with the selected NPs (50 µg/mL nano-TiO2, 10 µg/mL HNP). DNA primary reversible damage was evaluated by means of the Comet assay. Chromosomal persistent damage was assessed on the basis of micronuclei frequency and nuclear abnormalities by means of the Micronucleus-Cytome assay. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was performed to investigate the mechanism of action exerted by NPs. Pure Anatase n-TiO2 was found to be the most suitable for our purpose, as it is cyto- and genotoxicity free and able to reduce the genetic and chromosomal damage associated with exposure to B(a)P.

Evaluation of Genetic Damage in Persons Occupationally Exposed to Antineoplastic Drugs in Serbian Hospitals

Introduction Although useful in the treatment of malignant cells, antineoplastic drugs (ANPDs) as chemical genotoxic agents, can interfere with normal cell physiology causing genetic damage and unfavourable health effects, especially in occupationally exposed persons. The Cytokinesis-block Micronucleus (CBMN) Cytome assay has been widely used in human biomonitoring studies as a reliable biomarker of chemical genotoxic exposure. Objectives Our comprehensive research was conducted in order to evaluate micronuclei as a marker for preventive medical screening purposes for persons occupationally exposed to ANPDs. Methods Using the CBMN Cytome test, peripheral blood lymphocytes of 201 control and 222 exposed subjects were screened for genetic damage. Results Age and gender influenced micronucleus (MN) frequency, but smoking habit did not. The mean micronuclei frequencies and other parameters of the CBMN Cytome test [numbers of binuclear lymphocytes with one (MN1) or two (MN2) micronuclei] were significantly higher in the group of exposed persons. Positive correlation between duration of occupational exposure and MN frequency was revealed. Conclusions The results of our study performed on a large sample confirmed the capacity of the CBMN Cytome assay to serve as a reliable biomarker of long-term ANPD exposure.