An examination of DNA strand breakage in the comet assay and antioxidant capacity in diabetic patients

Measurement of DNA damage with the comet assay in high-prevalence diseases: current status and future directions

The comet assay is widely used in studies on genotoxicity testing, human biomonitoring and clinical studies. The simple version of the assay detects a mixture of DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites; these lesions are typically described as DNA strand breaks to distinguish them from oxidatively damaged DNA that are measured with the enzyme-modified comet assay. This review assesses the association between high-prevalence diseases in high-income countries and DNA damage measured with the comet assay in humans. The majority of case-control studies have assessed genotoxicity in white blood cells. Patients with coronary artery disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Alzheimer's disease have on average 2-fold higher levels of DNA strand breaks compared with healthy controls. Patients with coronary artery disease, diabetes, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also have 2- to 3-fold higher levels of oxidatively damaged DNA in white blood cells than controls, although there is not a clear difference in DNA damage levels between the different diseases. Case-control studies have shown elevated levels of DNA strand breaks in patients with breast cancer, whereas there are only few studies on colorectal and lung cancers. At present, it is not possible to assess if these neoplastic diseases are associated with a different level of DNA damage compared with non-neoplastic diseases.

Fish oil emulsion supplementation might improve quality of life of diabetic patients due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Diabetes-related complications, including cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, are a significant cause of increased morbidity and mortality among people with diabetes. Previous studies have confirmed that hyperglycemia has pro-oxidative and proinflammatory properties which cause diabetic complications. We hypothesized that supplementation of fish oil emulsion (FOE), rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, to diabetic patients might reduce hyperglycemia-induced pathological changes due to specific properties of FOE. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have a wide range of biological effects. In this project, we have examined the potential protective effect of the FOE on hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and cytokine generation in monocytes/macrophages U937 system in vitro. The monocytes/macrophages U937 were cultivated under normal or hyperglycemic (35 mmol/L glucose) conditions with/without FOE for 72 hours. We have focused on specific markers of oxidative stress (antioxidant capacity; superoxide dismutase activity; oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, monocytic chemotactic protein-1). Hyperglycemia caused reduction of antioxidant capacity, induction of DNA damage, and proinflammatory cytokine secretion. FOE significantly increased antioxidant capacity of cells as well as superoxide dismutase activity and significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and monocytic chemotactic protein-1 release. No effect was observed on oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids. Our results indicate that FOE can reduce hyperglycemia-induced pathological mechanisms by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Association of hearing impairment with insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction and impaired fasting glucose before onset of diabetes

AIM

Diabetes is a known risk factor for hearing impairment. No study regarding the association of insulin resistance (IR), β-cell dysfunction and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with hearing impairment has been reported in the population without diabetes. We examined these associations using a representative sample of the Korean population.

METHODS

Participants included 1589 males and 2496 females, who were ≥ 20 years of age and without diabetes from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys of the Korean population (2010). Audiometric tests and laboratory examinations were performed. Homeostasis model assessments of IR and β-cell function (HOMA-IR and HOMA-β) were calculated.

RESULTS

The prevalence of both high- and low-/mid-frequency hearing impairment among subjects with IFG was higher compared with those with normal glycaemia (42.2% vs. 24.5%, 14.7% vs. 7.8%, respectively). After adjustment for age, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β showed significant association with high-frequency hearing impairment in males. In the multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting for confounding variables, the presence of IFG, higher HOMA-IR and lower HOMA-β remained as independent risk factors for high-frequency mild hearing impairment in males < 70 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.441, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.056 to 1.967; OR, 1.448, 95% CI, 1.039 to 2.101; and OR, 0.447, 95% CI, 0.274 to 0.729, P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

IR, β-cell dysfunction and IFG are associated with high-frequency mild hearing impairment in the male population < 70 years before the onset of diabetes.

Histopathologic changes in the cochlea associated with diabetes mellitus--a review

BACKGROUND

The pathologic changes that occur as a result of diabetic microangiopathy have been well described for the kidneys and the eyes. Although many studies suggest an association between diabetes mellitus and hearing loss, the pathologic changes in the cochlea in association with the diabetic state remain to be clarified.

AIM/OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to determine the effects of diabetes mellitus on cochlear morphology.

METHOD

A comprehensive search for relevant articles was carried out on electronic databases of Ovid Medline, Ovid Medline in Process, PubMed, Ovid Embase,or Biosis Preview, The Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus. Articles published in English between 1940 and June 2010 were eligible to be reviewed. Using predefined inclusion criteria, published articles on histologic changes occurring in the cochlea due to diabetes mellitus were selected and reviewed, and their findings were synthesized.

RESULTS

Changes were observed in the basement membrane of the capillaries of the stria vascularis and in the basilar membrane, which was remarkably thickened, giving rise to diabetic microangiopathy. Loss of spiral ganglion neurons, organ of Corti cells, and atrophic changes in the stria vascularis were varied and infrequent.

CONCLUSION

There seems to be variable vulnerability of different cochlear cell types to the DM state. Further studies are required to determine the factors responsible for the differences in the histopathologic observations of cochlear tissues.

Oxidative DNA damage in diabetic and mild gestational hyperglycemic pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women with mild gestational hyperglycemia present high risk for hypertension, obesity and hyperglycemia, and appeared to reproduce the model of metabolic syndrome in pregnancy, with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Our clinical studies showed that mild gestational hyperglycemia or gestational diabetes are related to similar adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Hyperglycemia and other factors associated with diabetes generate reactive oxygen species that increase DNA damage levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes of pregnant women with diabetes or mild gestational hyperglycemia.

METHODS

The study included 111 pregnant women distributed into three groups based on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycemic profiles (GP), as follows: Normal OGTT and GP (control group); Normal OGTT and abnormal GP (mild gestational hyperglycemia group); Abnormal OGTT and GP (diabetic group). Maternal blood samples (5-10 mL) were collected and processed for determination of oxidative DNA damage by the comet assay, using Fpg and Endo III enzymes. Urine samples were also collected for determination of 8-OHdG concentrations by ELISA.

RESULTS

Subjects in the diabetes group presented increased amount of oxidized purines, while mild gestational hyperglycemia women presented with increased oxidized pyrimidines, compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

Gestational, overt diabetes and mild gestational hyperglycemia, were all related to increased oxidative DNA damage. Diabetic pregnant women showed increased level of oxidative DNA damage, perhaps mainly due to hyperglycemia. On the other hand, oxidative DNA damage detected in women with mild gestational hyperglycemia might be associated with repercussions from obesity, hypertension and/or insulin resistance. Interestingly, the type of DNA base affected seemed to be dependent on the glycemic profile or oxidative stress.

DNA damage in non-communicable diseases: A clinical and epidemiological perspective

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of death and disability, representing 63% of the total death number worldwide. A characteristic phenotype of these diseases is the accelerated aging, which is the result of phenomena such as accumulated DNA damage, telomere capping loss and subcellular irreversible/nonrepaired oxidative damage. DNA damage, mostly oxidative, plays a key role in the development of most common NCDs. The present review will gather some of the most relevant knowledge concerning the presence of DNA damage in NCDs focusing on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and neurodegenerative disorders, and discussing a selection of papers from the most informative literature. The challenge of comorbidity and the potential offered by new systems approaches for introducing these biomarkers into the clinical decision process will be discussed. Systems Medicine platforms represent the most suitable approach to personalized medicine, enabling to identify new patterns in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and prognosis of chronic diseases.

The antioxidant activity of copper(II) (3,5-diisopropyl salicylate)4 and its protective effect against streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats

Oxidative stress has been suggested as a potential contributor to the development of diabetic complications. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of a strong antioxidant copper complex against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in animals. Out of four copper complexes used, copper(II) (3,5-diisopropyl salicylate)4 (Cu(II)DIPS) was found to be the most potent antioxidant-copper complex. Pretreatment with Cu(II)DIPS (5 mg/kg) twice a week prior to the injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) has reduced the level of hyperglycemia by 34 % and the mortality rate by 29 %. Injection of the same dosage of the ligand 3,5-diisopropyl salicylate has no effect on streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia. The same copper complex has neither hypoglycemic activity when injected in normal rats nor antidiabetic activity when injected in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The protective effect of Cu(II)DIPS could be related to its strong antioxidant activity compared to other copper complexes median effective concentration (MEC) = 23.84 μg/ml and to Trolox MEC = 29.30 μg/ml. In addition, it reduced serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, by 29 %. This effect may explain why it was not effective against diabetic rats, when β Langerhans cells were already destroyed. Similar protective activities were reported by other antioxidants like Trolox.

Use of oral antidiabetic drugs (metformin and pioglitazone) in diabetic patients with breast cancer: how does it effect serum Hif-1 alpha and 8Ohdg levels?

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate indicators related to DNA damage and cancer pathogenesis in Type II diabetes cases with breast cancer. It was planned to evaluate the relationship between these markers with oral antidiabetic drugs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Fourty patients and 10 healthy individuals were included in the study. HIF-1α and 8-OHdG are examined in blood samples taken from these individuals with an ELISA Kit. Statistical analysis of data was performed with 95% confidence using Windows package program SPSS 15.0.

RESULTS

HIF-1α parameters were found to be meaningfully higher in the patient group than the controls in both pretreatment and posttreatment periods (p<0.05). No significant differences in terms of 8-OHdG between patients and controls. However, posttreatment serum HIF-1α ve 8-OHdG levels was found lower than pretreatment levels in patients receiving metformin, but not with pioglitazone. Conversely, serum 8-OHdG levels decreased significantly in these patients. When patients were evaluated according to the treatment groups (pioglitazone vs. metformin) no significant differences in terms of serum HIF-1? and 8-OHdG levels between treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

HIF-1α levels decreased significantly in the patient group receiving metformin. However, there was no significant difference in terms of HIF-1α levels in the patients receiving pioglitazone.

Altered expression of base excision repair genes in response to high glucose-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 hepatocytes

Background

It is widely accepted that chronic hyperglycemia induces DNA oxidative damage in type 2 diabetes, but little is known about the effect of hyperglycemia on the DNA repair system which plays a critical role in the maintenance of genomic DNA stability in diabetes.

Material/Methods

To investigate the alteration of base excision repair (BER) genes under hyperglycemia, the relative expression of the mRNAs of the BER genes – ogg1, polβ, lig3, xrcc1, and parp1 – were quantified using real-time PCR in HepG2 hepatocytes incubated with 5.5 mM or 30 mM glucose.

Results

High levels of glucose induced ROS accumulation and DNA damage, paralleling the dynamic alterations of BER mRNA expression. Compared to 5.5 mM glucose-treated cells, ogg1 and polβ mRNA expression transiently increased at day 1 and decreased after day 4 in cells exposed to 30 mM glucose. Exposure to 30 mM glucose increased the activity of PARP1, which led to reduced cellular NAD content and insulin receptor phosphorylation.

Conclusions

Exposure to high concentrations of glucose initially led to the increased expression of BER mRNAs to counteract hyperglycemia-induced DNA damage; however, long-term exposure to high glucose concentrations reduced the expression of mRNA from BER genes, leading to accumulated DNA damage.

Alkaline, Endo III and FPG modified comet assay as biomarkers for the detection of oxidative DNA damage in rats with experimentally induced diabetes

Increased production of reactive oxygen species under diabetic condition underlines the higher oxidatively damaged DNA in different tissues. However, it is practically difficult to assess the oxidatively damaged DNA in different internal organs. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate the extent of oxidative stress-induced DNA damage in different organs with the progression of diabetes. Diabetic and control Sprague Dawley rats were sacrificed in time-dependent manner and the lung, liver, heart, aorta, kidney, pancreas and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were analyzed for both alkaline and modified comet assay with endonuclease-III (Endo III) and formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG) (hereafter called modified comet assay) for the detection of oxidative DNA damage. The statistically significant increase in olive tail moment (OTM) was found in all the tested tissues. The extent of DNA damage was increased with the progression of diabetes as revealed by the parameter of OTM in alkaline and modified comet assay. Further, the positive correlations were observed between OTM of the lung, liver, heart, aorta, kidney and pancreas with PBL of diabetic rat in the alkaline and modified comet assay. Moreover, significant increase in the 8-oxodG positive nuclei in the lung, liver, heart, aorta, kidney and pancreas was observed in 4th and 8th week diabetic rat as compared to control. Results of the present study clearly indicated the suitability of alkaline and modified comet assay for the detection of multi-organ oxidative DNA damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat and showed that damaged DNA of PBL can be used as a suitable biomarker to assess the internal organs response to DNA damage in diabetes.

Protective Effect of Proanthocyanidin against Diabetic Oxidative Stress

We investigated the antidiabetic potential of proanthocyanidin and its oligomeric form in STZ-induced diabetic model rats and db/db type 2 diabetic mice. Proanthocyanidin ameliorated the diabetic condition by significant decreases of serum glucose, glycosylated protein, and serum urea nitrogen as well as decreases of urinary protein and renal-AGE in STZ-induced diabetic rats and decrease of serum glucose as well as significant decrease of glycosylated protein in db/db type 2 diabetic mice. The suppression of ROS generation and elevation of the GSH/GSSG ratio were also observed in the groups administered proanthocyanidin. Moreover, proanthocyanidin, especially its oligomeric form, affected the inflammatory process with the regulation of related protein expression, iNOS, COX-2 and upstream regulators, NF-κB, and the IκB-α. In addition, it had a marked effect on hyperlipidemia through lowering significant levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and NEFA. Moreover, expressions in the liver of SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 were downregulated by the administration of proanthocyanidins. The protective effect against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in type 1 and 2 diabetic models was significantly strong in the groups administered the oligomeric rather than polymeric form. This suggests that oligomers act as a regulator in inflammatory reactions caused by oxidative stress in diabetes.

DNA damage evaluated by comet assay in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

We conducted a case-control study to assess whether general DNA damage levels evaluated by comet assay (length of tail comet, tail extent moment, and olive tail moment) differ in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The sample included 71 Mexican patients with DM2 who had developed the disease >5 years previously and had been treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs (sulfonylurea and/or metformin), with no microvascular or macrovascular complications. These patients were classified into three groups according to age: (I) 40-50 years, (II) 51-60 years, and (III) 61-70 years. A control group of 14 individuals (40-50 years) without DM2 was included. Our results showed there was a slight but not significant increase in DNA damage in the two groups of patients with DM2 aged between 40 and 60 years compared with the 61-70-year-old patient group and controls. In conclusion, given that general DNA damage was similar in the three groups of patients with DM2 and the control group, it is possible that these cells showed similar oxidative damage, as has been proposed previously.

Assessment of genomic instability in normal and diabetic rats treated with metformin

To examine if a single or multiple oral administration of metformin, a member of the biguanide class of anti-diabetic agents, has any genotoxic and cytotoxic potential in normal and diabetic rats, a mammalian model, cytogenetic assays through several endpoints such as induction of micronuclei, chromosome aberrations, mitotic activity of bone marrow cells, sperm-head anomaly and assays of some oxidative stress markers have been conducted by the use of standard techniques. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection. Metformin was administrated to both diabetic and non-diabetic rats in single doses of 100, 500 or 2500 mg/kg along with vehicle control groups for diabetic and non-diabetic rats. The animals were killed by cervical dislocation at 24h after treatment, and then bone marrow cells were sampled. Also, a multiple dose study has done in which diabetic and non-diabetic animals were treated with 100 or 500 mg/kg of metformin daily for 4 or 8 weeks after which the animals were killed by cervical dislocation, and then bone marrow and sperm cells were collected. Concurrent control groups were also included in each experiment. The obtained results revealed that metformin was neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic for the rats in all groups at all tested doses. Moreover, metformin significantly reduced the diabetes-induced genomic instability and cell proliferation changes in somatic and germinal cells in a dose-dependent manner (2500, 500, >100mg/kg). In addition, diabetes induced marked biochemical alterations characteristic of oxidative stress including, enhanced lipid peroxidation and reduction in the reduced glutathione level. Treatment with metformin ameliorated these biochemical markers. In conclusion, metformin is a non-genotoxic or cytotoxic compound and may protect from genomic instability induced by hyperglycemia. Apart from its well-known anti-diabetic effect, the antigenotoxic effect of metformin could be possibly ascribed to its radical scavenger effect that modulated the genomic instability responses and cell proliferation changes induced by hyperglycemia.

Role of nitrosative stress in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular dysfunction

Here we overview the role of reactive nitrogen species (nitrosative stress) and associated pathways in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. Increased extracellular glucose concentration, a principal feature of diabetes mellitus, induces a dysregulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen generating pathways. These processes lead to a loss of the vascular endothelium to produce biologically active nitric oxide (NO), which impairs vascular relaxations. Mitochondria play a crucial role in this process: endothelial cells placed in increase extracellular glucose respond with a marked increase in mitochondrial superoxide formation. Superoxide, when combining with NO generated by the endothelial cells (produced by the endothelial isoform of NO synthase), leads to the formation of peroxynitrite, a cytotoxic oxidant. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species trigger endothelial cell dysfunction through a multitude of mechanisms including substrate depletion and uncoupling of endothelial isoform of NO synthase. Another pathomechanism involves DNA strand breakage and activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). PARP-mediated poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase importantly contributes to the development of diabetic vascular complications: it induces activation of multiple pathways of injury including activation of nuclear factor kappa B, activation of protein kinase C and generation of intracellular advanced glycation end products. Reactive species generation and PARP play key roles in the pathogenesis of 'glucose memory' and in the development of injury in endothelial cells exposed to alternating high/low glucose concentrations.

Role of nitrosative stress in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular dysfunction

Here we overview the role of reactive nitrogen species (nitrosative stress) and associated pathways in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. Increased extracellular glucose concentration, a principal feature of diabetes mellitus, induces a dysregulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen generating pathways. These processes lead to a loss of the vascular endothelium to produce biologically active nitric oxide (NO), which impairs vascular relaxations. Mitochondria play a crucial role in this process: endothelial cells placed in increase extracellular glucose respond with a marked increase in mitochondrial superoxide formation. Superoxide, when combining with NO generated by the endothelial cells (produced by the endothelial isoform of NO synthase), leads to the formation of peroxynitrite, a cytotoxic oxidant. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species trigger endothelial cell dysfunction through a multitude of mechanisms including substrate depletion and uncoupling of endothelial isoform of NO synthase. Another pathomechanism involves DNA strand breakage and activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). PARP-mediated poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase importantly contributes to the development of diabetic vascular complications: it induces activation of multiple pathways of injury including activation of nuclear factor kappa B, activation of protein kinase C and generation of intracellular advanced glycation end products. Reactive species generation and PARP play key roles in the pathogenesis of 'glucose memory' and in the development of injury in endothelial cells exposed to alternating high/low glucose concentrations.

The effects of Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria on DNA damage, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and some biochemical parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Yucca schidigera, Quillaja saponaria, and a mixture of both plants on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals were allocated into five groups with 10 rats each. The control (C) and diabetic control group (D) were fed with standard rat feed (SRF). The other diabetic groups, the Y. schidigera group (DY), the Q. saponaria group (DQ), and the mix group (DQY), were fed ad libitum using SRF+100 ppm Y. schidigera powder (Sarsaponin 30), SRF+100 ppm Q. saponaria powder (Nutrafito), and SRF+100 ppm Y. schidigera-Q. saponaria powder (Nutrafito Plus), respectively, for 3 weeks. The blood glucose level was found to be significantly lower in the DY and DQ groups than in the D and DQY groups (P<.001). The insulin levels increased in the DY and DQY groups (P<.05). Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the DY, DQ, and DQY groups significantly decreased compared to those of the D group (P<.01, P<.001, respectively). HDL in the diabetic groups significantly increased in the DQ and DQY groups (P<.05), while LDL did not show any significant change. Mononuclear leukocyte DNA damage, plasma malondialdehyde, and plasma protein carbonyl levels were found to be significantly lower (P<.001, P<.001, P<.05, respectively) in the DY, DQ, and DQY groups according to the D group. The low level of nitric oxide in diabetic rats increased in the DQ group (P<.01). Total antioxidant capacity between groups did not differ. Our results thus suggested that Q. saponaria and Y. schidigera powders could help in the treatment of the disease owing to their hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, and antioxidant effects.

Ameliorative effects of proanthocyanidin on oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Recent evidence strongly suggests that oxidative stress due to redox imbalance is causally associated with inflammatory processes and various diseases including diabetes. We examined the effects of proanthocyanidin from persimmon peel, using both oligomers and polymers, against oxidative stress with elucidation of the underlying mechanisms in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The elevation of lipid peroxidation in the kidney and serum under the diabetic condition was decreased by the administration of proanthocyanidin. The suppression of reactive oxygen species generation and elevation of the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio were observed in the groups administered proanthocyanidin. These results support the protective role of proanthocyanidin from oxidative stress induced by diabetes. Moreover, proanthocyanidin, especially its oligomeric form, affected the inflammatory process with regulation of related protein expression, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and upstream regulators, nuclear factor kappaB, and inhibitor-binding protein kappaB-alpha. Proanthocyanidin ameliorated the diabetic condition by decreases of serum glucose, glycosylated protein, serum urea nitrogen, urinary protein, and renal advanced glycation endproducts. In particular, oligomeric proanthocyanidin exerted a stronger protective activity than the polymeric form. This suggests that the polymerization of proanthocyanidin has an effect on its protective effect against diabetes. The present study supports the beneficial effect of proanthocyanidin against diabetes and oxidative stress-related inflammatory processes.

Oxidative stress, antioxidant status and DNA damage in patients with impaired glucose regulation and newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes

Previous studies have postulated the association between oxidative stress and Type 2 diabetes. Considering the long pre-diabetic period with IGR (impaired glucose regulation) and its high risk of developing diabetes, to test this hypothesis, we have investigated oxidative stress pathways and DNA damage in patients with IGR and newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. The study population consisted of 92 subjects with NGT (normal glucose tolerance), 78 patients with IGR and 113 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes. Plasma MDA (malondialdehyde) and TAC (total antioxidative capacity) status, erythrocyte GSH content and SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity were determined. A comet assay was employed to evaluate DNA damage. Compared with subjects with NGT, patients with IGR had reduced erythrocyte SOD activity. Patients with diabetes had a higher plasma MDA concentration, but a lower plasma TAC level and erythrocyte SOD activity, than the NGT group. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between IR (insulin resistance) and MDA concentration, but negative correlations with TAC status and SOD activity. With respect to beta-cell function, a positive association with TAC status and an inverse correlation with GSH respectively, were observed. The comet assay revealed slight DNA damage in patients with IGR, which was increased in patients with diabetes. Significant correlations were observed between DNA damage and hyperglycaemia, IR and beta-cell dysfunction. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that hyperglycaemia in an IGR state caused the predominance of oxidative stress over antioxidative defence systems, leading to oxidative DNA damage, which possibly contributed to pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, IR and more pronounced hyperglycaemia. This vicious circle finally induced the deterioration to diabetes.

The responses of lymphocytes from Asian and Caucasian diabetic patients and non-diabetics to hydrogen peroxide and sodium nitrite in the Comet assay

Numerous factors may influence the incidence of diabetes in the population. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is elevated in diabetes patients. Based on the reported involvement of reactive species and nitrate/nitrite in diabetes, this present study has examined in the alkaline Comet assay, the effect of different levels of NaNO(2) in the presence of the oxygen radical generating agent, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Peripheral lymphocytes from diabetic and non-diabetic Caucasians and Asians of both sexes were studied in vitro. Endogenous factors (e.g., sex, age, body mass index-BMI) and exogenous factors (lifestyle factors e.g., smoking and drinking habits, diet) were taken into account. A preliminary study in two individuals showed that DNA damage remained constant over a wide dose range of NaNO(2) (1-75mM), but when H(2)O(2) was added at a constant concentration of 50microM per dose of NaNO(2), there was an increase in DNA damage corresponding with the varying levels of NaNO(2) investigated. This was also seen with the 44 individuals (non-diabetic, n=24; type 1 diabetic, n=11; type 2 diabetic, n=9) investigated. NaNO(2) was capable of inducing a significant level of DNA damage in lymphocytes (p<0.001), but only with the addition of H(2)O(2). When levels of DNA damage were analysed in terms of the different variables there were few significant differences in damage between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, or other sub-population groups, and no statistically significant differences in susceptibility were observed between subject covariates using regression techniques.

Effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the improvement of antioxidant ability and DNA damage in NIDDM rats

The effects of polysaccharide extracted from Lycium barbarum (LBP) on blood glucose, oxidative stress and DNA damage in rats with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were studied. The results show that LBP treatment (10 mg/kg.d) for 4 weeks led to decreased levels of blood glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in serum of fasting rats; and to increased serum level of superoxidedismutase (SOD). Furthermore, LBP could reduce cellular DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes of NIDDM rats. The DNA damage was determined by using the single cell gel (comet) assay with alkaline electrophoresis and was quantified by measuring tail length and tail moment. These results suggest that LBP can control blood glucose and modulate the metabolism of glucose, leading to significant improvement of oxidative stress markers (SOD, MDA) in rats with NIDDM. And that, LBP decreases DNA damage possibly via a decrease in oxidative stress levels. In conclusion, LBP as a dietary supplement may prevent the development of complications or even tendency to carcinogenesis in NIDDM rats.

No evidence of chromosome damage in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. It is characterized by a progressive airflow limitation resulting from an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to inhaled gases and particles. Since oxidative stress is thought to play a role in COPD, and since increased oxidative stress is associated with chromosomal instability in several diseases, we investigated whether such relationship also exists in COPD. Whole blood lymphocytes from 49 COPD patients and 48 age- and sex-matched controls were cultivated in vitro and cytogenetic damage was evaluated by micronucleus (MN) and sister-chromatid-exchange (SCE) assays. In patients with COPD, MN frequency was not significantly different from that of controls. Similarly, SCE frequency did not differ in the two groups suggesting no disturbance in DNA replication. Unlike other diseases characterized by oxidative stress, COPD does not appear to be associated with DNA damage.

The effect of smoking on DNA effects in the comet assay: a meta-analysis

The comet assay (alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis, SCG or SCGE) is frequently used in biomonitoring to detect genotoxic effects in humans exposed at the workplace or in their environment. Because of its ready accessibility, blood is most frequently used in such studies. Many studies investigated cigarette smoking either as a genotoxic exposure itself or as a potential confounding factor in occupational studies. However, although smoking is considered to be a relevant exposure towards various genotoxins, conflicting results have been reported in the comet assay studies. The actual reasons for this discrepancy are not known. To further evaluate evidence for smoking-related DNA effects in the comet assay, we now used a meta-analysis approach based on a literature search. We identified 38 studies from 37 publications which were suited for a formal meta-analysis based on the standardized mean difference (SMD) between the study groups. The evaluation of these 38 studies indicated higher levels of DNA damage in smokers than in non-smokers [under a random effects model, SMD = 0.55, 95% confidence interval = (0.16-0.93)]. Subdividing these studies into studies investigating the effect of smoking as a genotoxic exposure (Type A studies, n = 12) and studies investigating smoking as a potential confounder in occupational studies (Type B, n = 26) indicated a significant difference only in Type A studies but not in Type B studies. Furthermore, studies using image analysis or image length measurements (n = 23) only indicated a tendency for a genotoxic effect of smoking, whereas studies using an arbitrary score (n = 15) found a significantly higher level of DNA damage in smokers.

Role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 activation in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications: endothelial dysfunction, as a common underlying theme

Hyperglycemia-induced overproduction of superoxide by mitochondrial electron-transport chain triggers several pathways of injury involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications [protein kinase C (PKC), hexosamine and polyol pathway fluxes, advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation] by inhibiting glyceraldehyde- 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity. Increased oxidative and nitrosative stress activates the nuclear enzyme, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP). PARP activation, on the one hand, depletes its substrate, NAD+, slowing the rate of glycolysis, electron transport, and ATP formation. On the other hand, it inhibits GAPDH by poly(ADP-ribosy)lation. These processes result in acute endothelial dysfunction in diabetic blood vessels, which importantly contributes to the development of various diabetic complications. Accordingly, hyperglycemia-induced activation of PKC isoforms, hexosaminase pathway flux, and AGE formation is prevented by blocking PARP activity. Furthermore, inhibition of PARP protects against diabetic cardiovascular dysfunction in preclinical models. PARP activation is present in microvasculature of human diabetic subjects. The oxidative/nitrosative stress-PARP pathway leads to diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction, which may be an important underlying mechanism for the pathogenesis of other diabetic complications (cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy). This review focuses on the role of PARP in diabetic complications and the unique therapeutic potential of PARP inhibition in the prevention or reversal of diabetic complications.

Roles of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications

Activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) plays a role in the pathogenesis of beta-cell necrosis that occurs in response to autoimmune disease associated with Type I diabetes. In addition, PARP activation also plays a role in the pathogenesis of endothelial injury that underlies the ethiology of various diabetic complications (vasculopathy, cardiomyopathy, retinopathy, neuropathy), which develop on the basis of chronically elevated circulating glucose levels in diabetes. Both during the pathogenesis of diabetes and during the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, free radical and oxidant production leads to DNA strand-breakage which activates the nuclear enzyme PARP and initiates an energy consuming, inefficient cellular metabolic cycle with transfer of the ADP-ribosyl moiety of NAD+ to protein acceptors. These processes lead to the functional impairment of the affected cells (beta-cells or vascular endothelial cells, respectively). PARP also promotes the activation of various pro-inflammatory signal transduction pathways. During the last two decades, a growing number of experimental studies demonstrated the beneficial effects PARP inhibition in various models of diabetes and diabetic complications. The current review provides an overview of the experimental evidence implicating PARP as a causative factor in the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic complications in vitro and in vivo.

The pathogenesis of diabetic complications: the role of DNA injury and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in peroxynitrite-mediated cytotoxicity

Recent work has demonstrated that hyperglycemia-induced overproduction of superoxide by the mitochondrial electron-transport chain triggers several pathways of injury [(protein kinase C (PKC), hexosamine and polyol pathway fluxes, advanced glycation end product formation (AGE)] involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications by inhibiting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity. Increased oxidative and nitrosative stress activates the nuclear enzyme, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP). PARP activation, on one hand, depletes its substrate, NAD+, slowing the rate of glycolysis, electron transport and ATP formation. On the other hand, PARP activation results in inhibition of GAPDH by poly-ADP-ribosylation. These processes result in acute endothelial dysfunction in diabetic blood vessels, which importantly contributes to the development of various diabetic complications. Accordingly, hyperglycemia-induced activation of PKC and AGE formation are prevented by inhibition of PARP activity. Furthermore, inhibition of PARP protects against diabetic cardiovascular dysfunction in rodent models of cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. PARP activation is also present in microvasculature of human diabetic subjects. The present review focuses on the role of PARP in diabetic complications and emphasizes the therapeutic potential of PARP inhibition in the prevention or reversal of diabetic complications.

Repair of cytokine-induced DNA damage in cultured rat islets of Langerhans

Treatment of cultured rat pancreatic islets of Langerhans with the combined cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) leads to DNA damage including strand breakage. We have investigated the nature of this damage and its repairability. When islets are further incubated for 4 h in fresh medium, the level of cytokine-induced strand breakage remains constant. If the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) is present during cytokine treatment, then strand breakage is prevented. If NMMA is added following, rather than during,the cytokine treatment and islets are incubated for 4 h, further nitric oxide synthesis is prevented and most cytokine-induced strand breaks are no longer seen. To investigate DNA repair following cytokine treatment, cells were transferred to fresh medium and incubated for 4 h in the presence of hydroxyurea (HU) and 1-beta-D-arabinosyl cytosine (AraC), as inhibitors of strand rejoining. In the presence of these inhibitors there was an accumulation of strand breaks that would otherwise have been repaired. However, when further nitric oxide synthesis was inhibited by NMMA, significantly less additional strand breakage was seen in the presence of HU and AraC. We interpret this, as indicating that excision repair of previously induced base damage did not contribute significantly to strand breakage. Levels of oxidised purines, as indicated by formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (Fpg) sensitive sites, were not increased in cytokine-treated islets. We conclude that in these primary insulin-secreting cells: (a) the DNA damage induced by an 18h cytokine treatment is prevented by an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, (b) much of the damage is in the form of apparent strand breaks rather than altered bases such as oxidised purines, (c) substantial repair is ongoing during the cytokine treatment and this repair is not inhibited in the presence of nitric oxide.

DNA damage and repair in type 2 diabetes mellitus

DNA damage may be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications mainly through oxidative stress. Little is known about DNA repair disturbances potentially contributing to the overall extent of DNA damage in T2DM, which, in turn, may be linked with genomic instability resulting in cancer. To assess whether DNA repair may be perturbed in 2DM we determined: (1) the level of endogenous basal DNA damage, this means damage recognized in the alkaline comet assay (DNA strand breaks and alkali labile sites) as well as endogenous oxidative and alkylative DNA damage (2) the sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents hydrogen peroxide and doxorubicin and the efficacy of removing of DNA damage induced by these agents in peripheral blood lymphocytes of T2DM patients and healthy individuals. The level of DNA damage and the kinetics of DNA repair was evaluated by the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Oxidative and alkylative DNA damage were assayed with the use of DNA repair enzymes endonuclease III (Endo III) and formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg), recognizing oxidized DNA bases and 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase II (AlkA) recognizing alkylated bases. The levels of basal endogenous and oxidative DNA damage in diabetes patients were higher than in control subjects. There was no difference between the level of alkylative DNA in the patients and the controls. Diabetes patients displayed higher susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide and doxorubicin and decreased efficacy of repairing DNA damage induced by these agents than healthy controls. Our results suggest that type 2 diabetes mellitus may be associated not only with the elevated level of oxidative DNA damage but also with the increased susceptibility to mutagens and the decreased efficacy of DNA repair. These features may contribute to a link between diabetes and cancer and metrics of DNA damage and repair, measured by the comet assay, may be markers of risk of cancer in diabetes.

Interventions with antioxidants and nutrients in relation to oxidative DNA damage and repair

Cells are constantly exposed to oxidants from metabolic and other biochemical reactions as well as external factors, suggesting that DNA repair systems and nutritional antioxidants are important determinants for low levels of DNA damage and cancer risk. The effects of single antioxidants, as well as various vegetables, fruits and carotenoid- and polyphenolic-rich products, have been assessed with biomarkers, mainly including DNA damage in white blood cells (WBC), urinary excretion of oxidized bases and nucleosides and DNA repair capacity. The basal levels of oxidative DNA damage, and effects of the interventions have been rather variable, possibly reflecting differences in the populations, regimens, and the type of assays. In general, single dose antioxidant interventions have shown protective effects with respect to WBC DNA oxidation. Studies with continuous ingestion of antioxidants show mixed results with respect to effects on oxidative DNA damage in WBC, possibly due to various problems with design, statistical power and period effects. Studies with only male subjects appear to show consistent antioxidant effects in terms of reduced levels of oxidized pyrimidines. Investigations of oxidatively stressed subjects, e.g. HIV-infected patients or diabetics, suggest beneficial outcomes in populations with high initial levels of oxidative DNA damage. Recent research on the effect of antioxidants on DNA repair enzymes suggest effects in terms of increased removal of oxidized purines, whereas mRNA levels of the relevant DNA repair genes appears to be unaffected by an antioxidant-rich diet. In the future, care should be taken with respect to design of intervention studies and considerations of gender effect, genotypes of defence enzymes as well as DNA repair capacity.

Endurance exercise results in DNA damage as detected by the comet assay

To determine if 6 weeks of supplementation with antioxidants could alleviate exercise-induced DNA damage, we studied 21 runners during a 50 km ultramarathon. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) placebos (PL) or (2) antioxidants (AO) (1000 mg vitamin C and 400 IU RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate). The comet assay was used to assess DNA damage in circulating leukocytes at selected time points: pre-, mid-, and 2 h postrace and daily for 6 days postrace. All subjects completed the race: run time 7.1 +/- 0.1 h, energy expenditure 5008 +/- 80 kcal for women (n = 10) and 6932 +/- 206 kcal for men (n = 11). Overall, the percentage DNA damage increased at midrace (p <.02), but returned to baseline by 2 h postrace, indicating that the exercise bout induced nonpersistent DNA damage. There was a gender x treatment x time interaction (p <.01). One day postrace, women taking AO had 62% less DNA damage than women taking PL (p <.0008). In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups of men at any time point. Thus, endurance exercise resulted in DNA damage as shown by the comet assay and AO seemed to enhance recovery in women but not in men.

Oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus: higher vulnerability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Since oxidative stress is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis and complications of diabetes, we used the comet assay (single cell alkaline gel electrophoresis) to evaluate DNA strand breaks and DNA base oxidation, measured as FPG (formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase)-sensitive sites, in peripheral blood cells (PBC) from type 2 diabetes patients and healthy controls. Oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes was increased in diabetic compared to normal subjects. However, no differences in the levels of DNA damage in isolated lymphocytes were found between the two groups. These data indicate a higher vulnerability to oxidative damage of polymorphonuclear as compared to mononuclear leukocytes in type 2 diabetes. Thus, the measurement of oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes by means of the comet assay is a suitable marker for the evaluation of systemic oxidative stress in diabetic patients.

Assessment of DNA strand breakage by the alkaline COMET assay in dialysis patients and the role of Vitamin E supplementation

Although the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in chronic renal failure (CRF) is not definitely demonstrated, a consistent number of observations has provided evidence for the presence of oxidative stress in uremic patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. In order to investigate this hypothesis further and to understand the role of antioxidant supplementation, peripheral blood lymphocytes were taken from 36 dialysis patients before and after Vitamin E supplementation in a dosage of 600 mg per day (2x300 mg) for 14 weeks and examined in the alkaline Comet assay for DNA strand breakage. The results were also compared with those of 36 controls with comparable age, sex, and smoking habits, and with no history of renal disease. The DNA breakage observed in the lymphocytes of patients before Vitamin E supplementation was significantly higher than in the controls (P<0.001) but a clear protective effect of Vitamin E supplementation were observed after 14 weeks of therapy.

Analysis of postmortem DNA degradation by single-cell gel electrophoresis

One of the most important longstanding problems in the field of forensic medicine is the determination of the time of death upon the discovery of a possible homicide victim. With a majority of homicide victims discovered within the first 48h, it is critically important to be able to determine time of death quickly, and with accuracy and precision. Current methods of determining postmortem interval (PMI) vary, but none can provide better than an 8-h window time estimate. In this paper, the potential application of single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), also known as the comet assay, to evaluate postmortem cell death processes, specifically nuclear DNA fragmentation, is assessed. Upon the death of an organism, internal nucleases contained within the cells should cause chromosomal DNA to degrade into increasingly smaller fragments over time, and if these fragments can be isolated and visualized, the fragmentation should prove to be measurable and quantifiable. An original study providing proof of the concept of postmortem DNA fragmentation between early and late time periods was conducted using human leukocytes. With an established trend seen in the leukocyte results, this study was then expanded using a porcine animal model, over a longer time period, with more frequent time-points evaluated. DNA degradation in all samples was revealed by SCGE and quantified by the use of DNA-specific quantitative stains, as measured by digital camera affixed to a microscope. The comet 'tail-moment' gave a measure of the proportion of fragmented to non-fragmented DNA, while the 'tail-length' provided the relative size of degraded DNA fragments. In both models, an increase in DNA fragmentation was found to correlate with an increased PMI from 0 to 56h postmortem, as evaluated by comet-tail-moment and by comet-tail-length, with tail-length providing the strongest statistical correlation, based upon regression analysis. The postmortem DNA fragmentation observed in this study, reveals a sequential, time-dependent process with the potential for use as a predictor of PMI in homicide cases.

Comparison of genotoxicity of sevoflurane and isoflurane in human lymphocytes studied in vivo using the comet assay

In the present paper, we report data on the possible genotoxic properties of two inhalation anaesthetics--sevoflurane (SVF) and isoflurane (ISF) - in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients before, during and after anaesthesia as compared to an unexposed control group. Both anaesthetics were evaluated for genotoxic activity using the comet assay. The exposed groups consisted of 24 ASA grades 1-2 unpremedicated patients (aged 20-66 years, anaesthetized 115-162 min for elective lower abdominal surgery), while the control group consisted of 12 healthy individuals. After induction of anaesthesia (thiopenthone sodium 5-7 mg/kg, fentanyl citrate 0.1mg and vecuronium bromide 0.1mg/kg), anaesthesia was maintained with inhalation of SVF 1-1.5% (n=12) or ISF 1-1.5% (n=12) in oxygen-air mixture. Venous blood samples were obtained before the induction of anaesthesia, at 60 and 120 min of anaesthesia and on the first, third and fifth days following anaesthesia. The comet assay detects DNA damage which includes strand breaks and alkaline labile sites induced directly by genotoxic agents as well as DNA degradation due to cell death. One hundred cells from each sample were examined and graded as no tailed, short and long tailed nuclei. The mean comet response was not different between controls and patients before anaesthesia. However, similar significant increases were observed in the mean comet response in blood sampled from patients at 60 (36.5+/-11.2, 37.8+/-12.1), or 120 min (53.1+/-17.1, 50.0+/-12.2) of anaesthesia and on the first day (37.8+/-15.1, 35.2+/-15.7) after anaesthesia in SVF and ISF treated groups, respectively. Removal of the DNA damage was observed after the third day of anaesthesia and the repair was completed within 5 days. The DNA damage detected in lymphocytes of patients during anaesthesia with SVF or ISF showed similar results as demonstrated by an increased mean comet migration at 120 min of anaesthesia and the cells were able to repair the induced DNA damage completely on the fifth postoperative day.

Assessment of DNA strand breakage by comet assay in diabetic patients and the role of antioxidant supplementation

Diabetes patients often show increased production of reactive oxidative species (ROS) together with vascular complications. The presence of these ROS may lead to increased DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes that may be revealed by the comet assay. To test whether DNA is damaged in diabetes, peripheral blood samples were taken from 30 control individuals and 63 diabetic patients (15 insulin dependent (IDDM) and 48 non-insulin dependent (NIDDM)) and the alkaline comet assay was used to evaluate background levels of DNA damage. Significant differences were detected between control and diabetic patients in terms of frequencies of damaged cells. The extend of DNA migration was greater in NIDDM patients by comparison with IDDM patients which might indicate that IDDM patients are handling more oxidative damage on a regular basis. Smoker individuals had higher frequencies of cells with migration by comparison with the non-smokers in both groups. Also, clear differences between patients on placebo and on Vitamin E supplementation for 12 weeks were observed on the basis of the extend of DNA migration during single cell gel electrophoresis.

Levels of peripheral blood cell DNA damage in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus human subjects

Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo can lead to cellular biomolecule damage. Such damage has been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In this study, we used the alkaline comet assay to measure DNA damage (single-stranded DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites) in freshly isolated whole blood, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils from 23 subjects with IDDM and 32 age- and sex-matched controls. Analysis of the results showed elevated levels of DNA damage (expressed as % comet tail DNA) in the lymphocyte (4.10+/-0. 47, 3.22+/-0.22), monocyte (4.28+/-0.47, 3.49+/-0.18), and whole blood (4.93+/-0.51, 4.51+/-0.23) fractions from IDDM subjects compared to controls, respectively, but the increases observed were not statistically significant. However, we found significantly elevated basal levels of DNA damage in the neutrophil fraction (8. 38+/-0.64, 4.07+/-0.23; p<0.001, Mann-Whitney U test) in IDDM subjects compared to controls. Given these novel neutrophil findings, we extended the study to include a total of 50 IDDM subjects and 50 age- and sex-matched control subjects and determined basal levels of DNA damage in the neutrophils of all 100 subjects. We found significantly elevated mean levels of DNA damage (8.40+/-0.83, 4. 34+/-0.27; p<0.001, Mann-Whitney U test) in the neutrophils from the IDDM subjects when compared to controls. Our results show that even with acceptable glycaemic control there is a significantly elevated level of DNA damage within diabetic neutrophils in vivo.

Examination of various biomarkers measuring genotoxic endpoints from Barcelona airport personnel

Three different biomarkers: sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE), micronuclei (MN), and the Comet assay, were used to evaluate different kinds of genetic damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 34 male workers at Barcelona airport, exposed to low levels of hydrocarbons and jet fuel derivatives. The control group consisted of 11 unexposed men. We also investigated the ras p21 protein levels in plasma, in order to evaluate whether the ras gene could serve as a suitable potential marker of carcinogenic pollution in occupationally exposed cohorts. SCE and MN analyses failed to detect any statistically significant increase in the airport workers when compared with the controls, and in fact, the frequency of binucleated cells with MN in the exposed group was significantly lower than that obtained in the control. However, slight but significant differences in the mean comet length and genetic damage index were observed between the exposed and control groups when using the Comet assay. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups in p21 plasma levels. Smoking was shown to affect significantly both SCE and high frequency cells (HFC) in the exposed group.