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Kovacs B, Graf U, Magyar I, Baehr L, Maspoli A, Duru F, Berger W, Saguner AM. A novel variant in the SLC4A3 gene with high penetrance in a family with short QT Syndrome. Europace 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/europace/euab116.327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
Background
Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease causing sudden cardiac death (SCD). Current guidelines recommend genetic testing. Associated variants in KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNJ2 and SLC4A3 genes have been reported.
Purpose
We report a family with a variant in the SLC4A3 gene with several presentations of SCD and high clinical penetrance of SQTS.
Methods
We performed a post-mortem genetic testing in the index patient in whom prior ECG was available. Subsequently, clinical and electrophysiological work-up and cascade screening (CS) of the detected suspected variant was carried out in available relatives.
Results
The index patient had suffered a SCD at the age of 17 (figure, upper panel, arrow). A previously registered ECG showed a shortened QTc of 340ms (figure, lower panel). Autopsy revealed no structural heart disease. Post-mortem genetic testing revealed variants in the LDB3, MYH7 and a novel heterozygous missense variant, p.(Ser1039Arg) also in the SLC4A3 gene. Although predictive bioinformatic algorithms (AlignGVGD, SIFT, MutationTaster, Polyphen2) showed conflicting classifications, family history was notable for SCD without post-mortem genetic work-up in three second degree relatives (figure, upper panel, patients 207, 208 and 305, age of death 33, 25 and 33 years respectively). CS was performed in first and second degree relatives of the index patient and was highly suggestive for disease association of the variant in the SLC4A3 gene with co-segregation in all clinically affected family members. Only one patient with the variant had a normal QTc (figure, upper panel, patient 202) of 407ms, however this patient was on regular QT-prolonging medication (risperidone and loperamide).
Conclusion
Genetic testing revealed a novel in the SLC4A3 gene, which was recently implicated in the pathogenesis of the SQTS. Although predictive bioinformatic algorithms yielded conflicting results, CS of family members suggests a likely pathogenicity (class IV) of the variant. Further CS or functional tests are necessary to establish causality. Abstract Figure. ECG of index patient and family tree
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kovacs
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Graf
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - I Magyar
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Baehr
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Maspoli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - F Duru
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Berger
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - AM Saguner
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
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Kovacs B, Graf U, Magyar I, Baehr L, Maspoli A, Duru F, Berger W, Saguner A. Two novel variants in the SLC4A3 gene in two families with Short QT Syndrome: the role of cascade screening. Eur Heart J 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease causing sudden cardiac death (SCD). Genetic testing is recommended according to current guidelines. Variants in KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNJ2 and SLC4A3 genes have been reported in SQTS.
Purpose
We report implications of genetic testing and cascade screening (CS) in two families with phenotypical presentation of SQTS and novel genetic variants of unknown significance.
Methods
We performed a thorough clinical and electrophysiological work-up of the index patients of both families. In addition, genetic screening was conducted. Subsequently, segregation analysis of potentially pathogenic variants was carried out in available relatives.
Results
Index patient 1 presented with a history of recurrent syncope. His ECG showed a shortened QTc of 340ms. Family history was unremarkable. Structural heart disease was excluded by cardiac MRI and coronary angiography. Genetic testing detected a rare heterozygous missense variant in the KCNH2 gene (p.(Arg328Cys), frequency 0.053%), predicted to be pathogenic according to various prediction algorithms (Polyphen, SIFT, Align GVGD, mutation taster). CS of relatives did not confirm this variant as the causative mutation. Reanalysis of whole-exome sequencing data revealed a novel heterozygous missense variant, p.(Arg370Cys) in the recently identified SLC4A3 gene. A variant at the same position has previously been associated with SQTS. CS suggested disease association. The second index patient had a SCD at the age of 17. A previously registered ECG showed a shortened QTc of 340ms. Autopsy revealed no structural heart disease. Post-mortem genetic testing revealed variants in the LDB3, MYH7 and a novel heterozygous missense variant, p.(Ser1039Arg) also in the SLC4A3 gene. Family history was positive for SCD in three 2° relatives. The index patient's father had a positive phenotype with a QTc of 365ms. CS again suggested disease association of the variant in the SLC4A3 gene only.
Conclusion
Genetic testing revealed two novel variants in the SLC4A3 gene, which was recently implicated in the pathogenesis of the SQTS. Predictive bioinformatic algorithms to assess the pathogenicity of missense variants are of limited relevance, but genetic analysis of additional unaffected and affected family members may be instrumental to identify pathogenic DNA sequence variations.
Family tree index patients 1 and 2
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kovacs
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Graf
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - I Magyar
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Baehr
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Maspoli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - F Duru
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Berger
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A.M Saguner
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
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Kovacs B, Graf U, Magyar I, Baehr L, Maspoli A, Firat D, Berger W, Saguner AM. 1268A family with a novel variant in the SLC4A3 gene leading to short QT phenotype - the importance of whole-exome-sequencing and cascade screening. Europace 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/europace/euaa162.297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
none
Introduction
Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease causing ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. Genetic testing is recommended according to current guidelines. Mutations in KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNJ2 and more recently SLC4A3 genes have been implicated in SQTS. These genes encode potassium channel subunits and a bicarbonate transporter regulating intracellular pH. A dominant mutation in this transporter can lead to increased intracellular pH and shortened action potential.
Purpose
We present a family with a short QT phenotype and recurrent syncope in whom a novel genetic variant was detected by whole-exome sequencing (WES), confirmed by cascade screening.
Methods
We performed a thorough work-up of the index patient including medical history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, echocardiography, stress testing, coronary angiography, flecainide challenge, and genetic testing with NGS. QTc was determined using Bazett’s formula. CS of all 1° and two 2° relatives was performed.
Results
The ECG of the index patient showed a QTc of 340ms and characteristics compatible with a SQTS (figure). Clinical work-up was unremarkable. A first genetic search with next generation sequencing focusing on genes that have been previously involved in the pathogenesis of channelopathies detected a rare known heterozygous missense variant in the KCNH2 gene (Arg328Cys, frequency 0.053%), which was predicted to be pathogenic according to various prediction algorithms (Polyphen, SIFT, Align GVGD, mutation taster). ECG screening of all asymptomatic first-degree family members identified a SQT phenotype in the mother (QTc 355ms), but not in the father (QTc 380ms) and sister (410ms). The KCNH2 variant was found in the father and sister but not the affected mother, which excludes this variant as the causative mutation in this family. Therefore, reanalysis of WES data was performed and revealed a novel heterozygous missense variant p.(Arg370Cys) in the SLC4A3 gene, recently associated with SQTS. A mutation in this gene at the same position has been previously reported in SQTS. The p.(Arg370Cys) mutation was found in the mother but not in the unaffected father or sister. Furthermore the mutation was present in two affected maternal uncles (QTc 319ms and 342ms) supporting the assumption that this was the causative mutation in this family.
Conclusions
A novel genetic variant in the SLC4A3 gene leading to sQT phenotype could be detected using WES and cascade screening. Predictive bioinformatic algorithms to assess the pathogenicity of missense variants are of limited relevance, but genetic analysis of additional unaffected and affected family members may be instrumental to identify pathogenic DNA sequence variations.
Abstract Figure. Pedigree and ECGs of the family
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kovacs
- University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Graf
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - I Magyar
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Baehr
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Maspoli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - D Firat
- University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Berger
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A M Saguner
- University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Stettner G, Knirsch U, Berger W, Graf U, Hendriks B, Seidl R, Bernert G, Behunova J, Laccone F, Weiss S. EP.113Infantile-onset CMT2Z is caused by two MORC2 gene mutations and is associated with a distinct phenotype. Neuromuscul Disord 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2019.06.571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Bruno G, Bagalino A, Andreozzi P, Caporossi A, Benvenuto R, Graf U. Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Role in Exercise-Induced Urticaria-Angioedema Syndrome? Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/039463209600900234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A.P. Caporossi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - R. Benvenuto
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
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Andreozzi P, Bagalino A, Caporossi AP, Benvenuto R, Graf U, Bruno G. “Silent” Chronic Infections as the Cause of the Urticaria-Angioedema Syndrome. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/039463209600900233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. P. Caporossi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - R. Benvenuto
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - G. Bruno
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
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Abstract
Many evidences show that bronchial asthma may be triggered or enhanced by gastroesophageal reflux (GER) even if standardized methods to detect this particular syndrome defined as “gastric asthma” are not available. The Bernstein test suitably modified was performed in 6 adult asthmatic outpatients when they were symptom-free. These subjects were also suffering from recurrent epigastric pain. The patients resulted positive to ultranebulized fog bronchial challenge and all had a moderate- severe alteration of the competency of the lower esophageal sphincter, shown by endoscopy. Functional lung parameters were significantly reduced after esophageal acidification when they were compared to basal values. Is the linkage between GER and asthma important in clinical practice? In asthmatic patients GER represents an important trigger for broncoconstriction through a vagal mediated reflex. The modified Bernstein test represents a reproducible method and may be well used to identify “gastric asthma”, particularly when this picture is “silent”, less evident, or it is not rightly considered. Moreover, its recognition is very relevant to therapeutic problems, also when it is in a subclinical stage. In fact, many “excellent” drugs used for bronchial asthma treatment may have undesirable effects for the gastric tract causing abnormalities such as GER that is so damaging in the development of “gastric asthma”.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
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9
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Reiter F, Graf U, Serebryannikov EE, Schweinberger W, Fiess M, Schultze M, Azzeer AM, Kienberger R, Krausz F, Zheltikov AM, Goulielmakis E. Route to attosecond nonlinear spectroscopy. Phys Rev Lett 2010; 105:243902. [PMID: 21231527 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.105.243902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate generation of coherent microjoule-scale, low-order harmonic supercontinua in the deep and vacuum ultraviolet (4-9 eV), resulting from the nonlinear transformations of near-single-cycle laser pulses in a gas cell. We show theoretically that their formation is connected to a novel nonlinear regime, holding promise for the generation of powerful deep-UV and vacuum ultraviolet subfemtosecond pulses. Our work opens the route to pump-probe spectroscopy of subfemtosecond-scale valence-shell phenomena in atoms, molecules, and condensed matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Reiter
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
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Vázquez-Gómez G, Sánchez-Santos A, Vázquez-Medrano J, Quintanar-Zúñiga R, Monsalvo-Reyes AC, Piedra-Ibarra E, Dueñas-García IE, Castañeda-Partida L, Graf U, Heres-Pulido ME. Sulforaphane modulates the expression of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6g1 in larvae of the ST and HB crosses of the Drosophila wing spot test and is genotoxic in the ST cross. Food Chem Toxicol 2010; 48:3333-9. [PMID: 20816911 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2010] [Revised: 08/21/2010] [Accepted: 08/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Constitutive overexpression of Cyp6g1 and Cyp6a2 genes in DDT-resistant line Oregon-flare of the Drosophila melanogaster wing spot test (SMART) has been reported. Cyp6g1 and Cyp6a2 expression levels were compared against the β-actin gene in the standard (ST) and high bioactivation (HB) crosses of the Somatic Mutation and Recombination test (SMART) treated with sulforaphane or phenobarbital as the control inductor. The CYP450s' enzymatic activity was determined by overall NADH consumption. The expression levels of both genes and the CYP450s activity was higher in the HB cross. The Cyp6g1 levels were higher than those of Cyp6a2 in both crosses, but lower than the expression of β-actin. Sulforaphane decreased Cyp6g1 in the HB cross and increased it in the ST cross; Cyp6a2 expression was inhibited in the ST cross. Sulforaphane resulted mutagenic in the ST cross, which could be related to the inhibition of Cyp6a2. Phenobarbital did not modify the Cyp6g1 levels but increased the Cyp6a2 and CYP450s basal activity. Although the transcript levels were always higher in the HB cross than in the ST, the expression of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6g1 was not constitutive and was independent one from the other. Sulforaphane modulated both genes in a differential way in each cross and, in contrast to its putative protective effect, it resulted to be mutagenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Vázquez-Gómez
- Genetic Toxicology, Biology, UBIPRO, FES Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
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11
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Ecker K, Küchler M, Feldmeyer-Christe E, Graf U, Waser L. Predictive mapping of floristic site conditions across mire habitats: Evaluating data requirements. COMMUNITY ECOL 2008. [DOI: 10.1556/comec.9.2008.2.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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12
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Graf U, Fiess M, Schultze M, Kienberger R, Krausz F, Goulielmakis E. Intense few-cycle light pulses in the deep ultraviolet. Opt Express 2008; 16:18956-18963. [PMID: 19581987 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.018956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that nonlinear frequency upconversion of few-cycle near-infrared (NIR) laser pulses, by means of harmonic generation in noble gases, is a promising approach for extending cutting-edge, few-cycle ultrafast technology into the deep ultraviolet and beyond, without the need for UV dispersion control. In our experiment, we generate 3.7-fs pulses in the deep UV (approximately 4.6 eV) with adjustable polarization and gigawatt-scale peak power. We demonstrate that the implementation of this concept with a quasi-monocycle driver offers the potential for advancing UV pulse generation towards the 1-fs frontier.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Garching, Germany
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13
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Guzmán-Rincón J, Delfín-Loya A, Ureña-Núñez F, Paredes LC, Zambrano-Achirica F, Graf U. Genotoxicity of neutrons in Drosophila melanogaster. Somatic mutation and recombination induced by reactor neutrons. Radiat Res 2005; 164:157-62. [PMID: 16038586 DOI: 10.1667/rr3405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the observation of a direct relationship between the absorbed doses of neutrons and the frequencies of somatic mutation and recombination using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) of Drosophila melanogaster. This test was used for evaluating the biological effects induced by neutrons from the Triga Mark III reactor of Mexico. Two different reactor power levels were used, 300 and 1000 kW, and two absorbed doses were tested for each power level: 1.6 and 3.2 Gy for 300 kW and 0.84 and 1.7 Gy for 1000 kW. A linear relationship was observed between the absorbed dose and the somatic mutation and recombination frequencies. Furthermore, these frequencies were dependent on larval age: In 96-h-old larvae, the frequencies were increased considerably but the sizes of the spots were smaller than in 72-h-old larvae. The analysis of the balancer-heterozygous progeny showed a linear absorbed dose- response relationship, although the responses were clearly lower than found in the marker-trans-heterozygous flies. Approximately 65% of the genotoxicity observed is due to recombinational events. The results of the study indicate that thermal and fast neutrons are both mutagenic and recombinagenic in the D. melanogaster wing SMART, and that the frequencies are dependent on neutron dose, reactor power, and the age of the treated larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guzmán-Rincón
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Apartado Postal 18-1027, Col. Escandón, C.P. 11801, México DF, Mexico
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15
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16
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Küchler M, Ecker K, Feldmeyer-Christe E, Graf U, Küchler H, Waser L. Combining remotely sensed spectral data and digital surface models for fine-scale modelling of mire ecosystems. COMMUNITY ECOL 2004. [DOI: 10.1556/comec.5.2004.1.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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17
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Abstract
Tackykinins are involved in the inflammatory process of a large number of diseases. The role of the tachykinins in ischemic brain injury was evaluated by the serum levels of Substance P (SP), one of the most known tachykinins and detected by a competitive enzyme immunoassay. The study was performed in 15 human females and 3 human males with typical manifestation of complete stroke (12 cases) or transient ischemic attack (6 cases). The mean SP level in the serum of patients with transient ischemic attack (0.53+/-0.25 ng/ml) and of patients with complete stroke (0.31+/-0.14 ng/ml), showed significantly higher values than in controls (0.10+/-0.02 ng/ml). Moreover, in transient ischemic attack, the SP values were significantly higher than in cerebral complete stroke. But SP levels, based on the timings of classification of patients (i.e. before 12 hours: 0.34+/-0.15 ng/ml vs. 12 to 24 hours: 0.26+/-0.11 ng/ml) with brain injury, did not show any significant difference. Both values anyway were significantly higher than in controls. Our original results demonstrate the SP increase during cerebral ischemia. Further studies are necessary to verify if SP has an effective physiopathological role in the neurological ischemic damage, or if it is only a concomitant phenomenon. Our data, if confirmed, will be particularly important, not only to improve the knowledge of cerebral ischemic injury, but also for diagnosis and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, University of Rome--La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Graf U, Tega F, Santangelo G, Barucco M, Bruno A, Bracchitta S. Cetirizine, a second-generation H1 antagonist, modulates Rantes and MCP-1 levels in allergic rhinitis. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2002; 15:113-118. [PMID: 12590873 DOI: 10.1177/039463200201500206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokines and their receptors are involved in several allergic diseases. We measured RANTES and MCP-1 levels in sera of allergic rhinitis patients, and also we evaluated the effect of cetrizine, a second-generation H1 antagonist, on these chemoattractant proteins. 15 subjects were studied (10 males and 5 females; mean age: 26.7 years). They were suffering from perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (8 patients) or by grasses (7 patients). RANTES and MCP-1 serum levels were detected with an enzyme immunoassay before and after two weeks of treatment with 10 mg of cetirizine daily, and again after two weeks of washout. Baseline serum levels of RANTES and MCP-1 chemokines were significantly higher (p < 0.02 and p = 0.007, respectively) in allergic patients than in the healthy control group. Cetirizine resulted in a significant decrease in RANTES (p < 0.02) and MCP-1 (p = 0.003) versus baseline values. There is an increase in RANTES and MCP-1 in allergic rhinitis, which is counteracted by cetirizine.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dip Medicina Clinica, Università di Roma, Italy
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Magrini L, Santangelo G, Graf U, Angelino A. Serum Tryptase in Allergic Rhinitis: Effect of Cetirizine Treatment. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2001. [DOI: 10.1177/039463200101400305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated mast cells release a large range of potent mediators of allergic inflammation, including proteases. The tryptase serum levels were evaluated in 13 subjects suffering from allergic perennial rhinitis. Moreover, the effects of cetirizine treatment on serum tryptase were studied using the UniCap™ tryptase fluoroenzymeimmunoassay. In allergic patients the serum tryptase values (M±SD: 6.1 ± 2.4 μg/L) were significantly (p < 0.02) higher than the values detected in controls (3.0 ± 1.2 μg/L). In allergic rhinitis, after antihistamine treatment, tryptase values (4.4 ± 1.8 μg/L) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). After two weeks from the cetirizine stop, the tryptase levels increased again (5.5 ± 2.6 μg/l). The results demonstrate that mast cells are constantly activated in perennial allergic rhinitis. The antihistamine treatment is effective in reducing the tryptase release from mast cells, but the mechanism of action of cetirizine is still to understand.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
- Ospedale Madre G. Vannini, Roma
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
- Ospedale Madre G. Vannini, Roma
| | - L. Magrini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
| | - G. Santangelo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
| | - U. Graf
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
| | - A. Angelino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
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Spanó MA, Frei H, Würgler FE, Graf U. Recombinagenic activity of four compounds in the standard and high bioactivation crosses of Drosophila melanogaster in the wing spot test. Mutagenesis 2001; 16:385-94. [PMID: 11507237 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/16.5.385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) using Drosophila melanogaster was employed to determine the recombinagenic and mutagenic activity of four chemicals in an in vivo eukaryotic system. Two different crosses involving the wing cell markers mwh and flr(3) were used: the standard cross and a high bioactivation cross. The high bioactivation cross is characterized by a high constitutive level of cytochromes P450 which leads to an increased sensitivity to a number of promutagens and procarcinogens. Three-day-old larvae derived from both crosses were treated chronically with the oxidizing agent potassium chromate and with the three procarcinogens cyclophosphamide, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene and 9,10-dimethylanthracene. From both crosses two types of progeny were obtained: marker-heterozygous and balancer-heterozygous. The wings of both genotypes were analysed for the occurrence of single and twin spots expressing the mwh and/or flr(3) mutant phenotypes. In the marker-heterozygous genotype the spots can be due either to mitotic recombination or to mutation. In contrast, in the balancer-heterozygous genotype only mutational events lead to spot formation, all recombination events being eliminated. The oxidizing agent potassium chromate was equally and highly genotoxic in both crosses. Surprisingly, the promutagen cyclophosphamide also showed equal genotoxicity in both crosses, whereas p-dimethylaminoazobenzene was negative in the standard cross, but clearly genotoxic in the high bioactivation cross. 9,10-Dimethylanthracene showed a rather weak genotoxicity in the high bioactivation cross. Analyses of the dose-response relationships for mwh clones recorded in the two wing genotypes demonstrated that all four compounds are recombinagenic. The fraction of all genotoxic events which are due to mitotic recombination ranged from 83% (9,10-dimethylanthracene) to 99% (p-dimethylaminoazobenzene). These results demonstrate that the wing spot test in Drosophila is most suited to the detection of recombinagenic activity of genotoxic chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Spanó
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, CH-8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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21
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Bracchitta S, Graf U, Santangelo G, Zaino S, Gaston N. Serum tryptase in allergic rhinitis: effect of cetirizine and fluticasone propionate treatment. Clin Ter 2001; 152:299-303. [PMID: 11794849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A specific reaction against several kinds of inhalant allergens characterizes allergic rhinitis. Mast cells play a crucial role in the allergic inflammation releasing histamine and other mediators. Tryptase is considered to be a specific marker of mast cell activation. This study was devoted to evaluate the serum tryptase in allergic rhinitis and to evaluate the effect of cetirizine and fluticasone propionate on mast cell activation. 13 subjects, suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tryptase serum levels were detected by the fluoroenzymeimmunoassay (Pharmacia & Upjohn AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Blood samples were taken four times: before starting the study, after two weeks of 10 mg cetirizine treatment once a day, after two weeks of wash-out, and again after 15 days of 100 micrograms intranasal fluticasone propionate therapy twice a day. RESULTS In allergic rhinitis, the basal values of serum tryptase (M +/- SD: 6.1 +/- 2.4 micrograms/l) were significantly higher than in controls (M +/- SD: 3.0 +/- 1.2 micrograms/l). After the antihistamine treatment, tryptase values (M +/- SD: 4.4 +/- 1.8 micrograms/l) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). After the stop of antihistamine treatment, tryptase levels increased (M +/- SD: 5.5 +/- 2.6 micrograms/l, p < 0.001). After the topical corticosteroid treatment, tryptase values decreased again significantly (M +/- SD: 4.5 +/- 3.1 micrograms/l, p < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS All these data seem to confirm the effective action of cetirizine and fluticasone propionate on tryptase serum levels. While the action of corticosteroid is well known, the action of cetirizine is still to define, considering the recent reports on anti-inflammatory effect of the second generation of H1 receptor antagonists. Further studies are necessary to understand if the pharmacological effect on tryptase is a specific one of cetirizine, or if it is common to other anti-H1 molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma, Italia.
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Magrini L, Santangelo G, Graf U, Angelino A. Serum tryptase in allergic rhinitis: effect of cetirizine treatment. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2001; 14:147-152. [PMID: 12604015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated mast cells release a large range of potent mediators of allergic inflammation, including proteases. The tryptase serum levels were evaluated in 13 subjects suffering from allergic perennial rhinitis. Moreover the effects of cetirizine treatment on serum tryptase were studied using the UniCap™ tryptase fluoroenzymeimmunoassay. In allergic patients the serum tryptase values (M±SD: 6.1 ± 2.4 μg/L) were significantly (p < 0.02) higher than the values detected in controls (3.0 ± 1.2 μg/L). In allergic rhinitis, after antihistamine treatment, tryptase values (4.4 ± 1.8 μg/L) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). After two weeks from the cetirizine stop, the tryptase levels increased again (5.5 ± 2.6 μg/l). The results demonstrate that mast cells are constantly activated in perennial allergic rhinitis. The antihistamine treatment is effective in reducing the tryptase release from mast cells, but the mechanism of action of cetirizine is still to understand.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Dept Internal Medicine, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
Mast cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of many allergic disorders. They can be activated in different ways. The present study was focused to evaluate the role of mast cells in acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema induced by gastroesophageal reflux. Tryptase, an important marker of mast cell activation, was detected with UniCap Tryptase Fluoroenzymeimmunoassay (Pharmacia & Upjohn AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Eight subjects were studied: four males and four females, aged between 29 and 71 years (mean age: 45 yrs.), suffering from acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema. Results were compared with the results of seven healthy control subjects. Moreover, data were compared with those of 13 subjects (10 males and 3 females, mean age: 24.7 years) suffering from allergic rhinitis. In acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema, serum tryptase levels (mean +/- S.D.: 9.6 +/- 4.3 microg/l) were significantly higher (P < 0.007) than those of the controls (mean +/- S.D.: 3.0 +/- 1.2 microg/l) and higher also than in allergic rhinitis (mean +/- S.D.: 6.1 +/- 2.4 microg/l, P < 0.03). The results underline the central role of mast cells in the inflammation of acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica, Fondazione A. Cesalpiolo, Università La Sapienza di Roma, Italy.
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Cunha KS, Reguly ML, Graf U, de Andrade HH. Taxanes: the genetic toxicity of paclitaxel and docetaxel in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutagenesis 2001; 16:79-84. [PMID: 11139602 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/16.1.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the taxanes, paclitaxel and docetaxel were investigated for genotoxicity in the wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster. These relatively new drugs are used in cancer therapy and show great promise in the treatment of a variety of cancers. Their major cellular target is the alpha,beta-tubulin dimer but, unlike other spindle poisons, they stabilize microtubules by a shift towards assembly, producing nonfunctional microtubule bundles. The Drosophila wing Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) provides a rapid means to evaluate agents able to induce gene mutations and chromosome aberrations, as well as rearrangements related to mitotic recombination. We applied the standard version of SMART (with normal bioactivation) and a variant version with increased cytochrome P450-dependent biotransformation capacity. In the standard assay, docetaxel was found to be aneuploidogenic; this was effectively abolished by a high cytochrome P450-dependent detoxification capacity. This suggests, as previously reported, the involvement of this family of enzymes in the detoxification of docetaxel rather than in its activation. In contrast, paclitaxel was clearly non-genotoxic at the same (millimolar) concentrations as used for docetaxel in both crosses. The weak responsiveness of SMART assays to aneugenic compounds, the weaker ligand and assembly action of paclitaxel and the more rapid reversibility of the microtubules formed with this compound, may have caused the negative response observed in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Cunha
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, CP 131, 74001-970 Goiânia, GO, Brasil
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25
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Lehmann M, Graf U, Reguly ML, Rodrigues De Andrade HH. Interference of tannic acid on the genotoxicity of mitomycin C, methylmethanesulfonate, and nitrogen mustard in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Environ Mol Mutagen 2000; 36:195-200. [PMID: 11044900 DOI: 10.1002/1098-2280(2000)36:3<195::aid-em2>3.0.co;2-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The modulating effects of tannic acid (TA) on somatic mutation and mitotic recombination induced by methylmethanesulfonate (MMS), nitrogen mustard (HN2), and mitomycin C (MMC) were evaluated in the standard (ST) cross of the wing spot test in Drosophila melanogaster using co- and posttreatment protocols. It was shown that TA alone did not modify the spontaneous frequencies of single and twin spots, which means that this polyphenol neither acts as a genotoxin nor exerts any antigenotoxic effect over spontaneous DNA lesions. However, the simultaneous administration of genotoxins with TA can lead to considerable alterations of the frequencies of induced wing spots in comparison to those with administration of the genotoxins alone. In fact, TA produced a significant increase in HN2-induced wing spots with enhancements between 90 and 160%. For MMS, the enhancement was 38% in the highest TA concentration tested. In contrast, a significant protective action of this polyphenol was observed in combined treatments with MMC (64 to 99% inhibition). Moreover, the data from TA posttreatments demonstrated that this agent is not effective in exerting protective or enhancing effects on the genotoxicity of MMS, HN2, or MMC. One feasible mechanism of TA action is its interaction with the enzyme systems catalyzing the metabolic detoxification of MMS and HN2, which may also be involved in the bioactivation of MMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lehmann
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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26
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Graf U, Santangelo G. Hepatitis C virus: a high risk factor for a second primary malignancy besides hepatocellular carcinoma. Fact or fiction? Clin Ter 1999; 150:413-8. [PMID: 10756661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Second primary malignancies occur more and more often. But the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) linked to a second primary cancer is not frequent. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study focused on a second primary cancer was performed in 37 patients with HCC, aged between 46 and 81 years, 27 males and 10 females. RESULTS 5 out of them (13.5%), 3 males and 2 females, developed a second primary neoplasm before or after HCC. In 3 cases the second malignancy was a carcinoma of the kidney, of the breast, and the prostate. The fourth patient had a Hodgkin's lymphoma before HCC. The last and most unlucky case, besides HCC, had a basal cell carcinoma, a colorectal cancer, and a bladder carcinoma. The common data of these 5 patients were the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and the positivity of the HCV RNA polymerase reaction. One patient was also HBV positive. CONCLUSION Considering that a large number of virus has been found linked to human cancers, our results brought us to hypothesize that HCV could have played an important role not only in the development of HCC but of the second primary malignancy too. This is likely favoured by constitutional or acquired biological and molecular alterations. Tumor suppressor genes alterations have been reported to be frequently linked to cancers of kidney and breast, of colorectal and skin, of prostate, and lymphoemopoietic tissue. Now just these organs are involved in our patients in addition to the liver. Our results, if confirmed, are of a relevant interest, considering that world-wide HCC is constantly increasing for the spreading of the virus risk-factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica, Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
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27
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Santos JH, Graf U, Reguly ML, Rodrigues de Andrade HH. The synergistic effects of vanillin on recombination predominate over its antimutagenic action in relation to MMC-induced lesions in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutat Res 1999; 444:355-65. [PMID: 10521675 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5718(99)00101-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The wing Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster was used to study the modulating action of vanillin (VA) in combination with the alkylating agents mitomycin C (MMC), methylmethanesulphonate (MMS) and the bifunctional nitrogen mustard (HN2). Two types of treatments with VA and each of the three genotoxins were performed: chronic co-treatments of three-day-old larvae of the standard cross as well as post-treatments after acute exposure with the genotoxins. This allowed the study of the action of VA not only in the steps that precede the induction of DNA lesions but also in the repair processes. The overall findings from the co-treatment series suggest that ingestion of VA with MMS or MMC can lead to significant protection against genotoxicity; but this is not the case with HN2. Antioxidant activity, suppression of metabolic activation or interaction with the active groups of these two alkylating agents could be mechanisms by means of which VA exerts its desmutagenic action. In contrast, when evaluated in the post-treatment procedure, VA causes two antagonistic effects on the genotoxicity of MMC: (i) synergism on recombination (172.8%) and (ii) protection against mutation (79.0%). Consequently, both activities together lead to a considerable increase in mitotic recombination. In spite of being separate events, recombination and gene mutation are correlated during mitosis since the fate of a DNA lesion depends on the repair pathway followed. Our results may suggest that VA is a modifying factor that blocks the mutagenic pathway and consequently directs the MMC-induced lesions into a recombinational repair. Furthermore, VA did not modify the genotoxicity when administered after treatments with HN2 or MMS. Therefore, the major finding of the present study, namely the co-recombinagenic activity of VA on MMC-induced lesions, seems to be related to the type of induced lesion and consequently to the repair processes involved in its correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Santos
- Laboratório de Mutagênese, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, CP 15053,91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Keel JB, Rinderknecht B, Graf U. [Brown vaginal discharge in early pregnancy, hyperemesis. Intact hydatidiform mole]. Praxis (Bern 1994) 1999; 88:1283-1284. [PMID: 10479968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J B Keel
- Gynäkologische und Geburtshilfliche Klinik, Kantonales Spital Uznach
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29
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Delgado-Rodríguez A, Ortíz-Marttelo R, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Gómez-Arroyo S, Graf U. Genotoxicity of organic extracts of airborne particles in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Chemosphere 1999; 39:33-43. [PMID: 10377966 DOI: 10.1016/s0045-6535(98)00586-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Complex mixtures extracted from air filters exposed for 24 h in two sessions (27 July and 02 August 1991) and at two locations (Merced, downtown, and Pedregal de San Angel, south-west) in Mexico City were analysed. The organic extracts were from airborne particles equal or smaller than 10 microns (PM10), and from total suspended particles (TSP). These organic extracts were assayed in the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in wings of Drosophila melanogaster using two different crosses as well as in the Salmonella/microsome assay using strain TA98 with and without S9 fraction. The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the extracts was determined by gas chromatography. The genotoxic activities observed in the two test systems were comparable with the indirect mutagens producing greater response than the direct mutagens. The quantities of particulate matter as well as the genotoxic activities were higher on 02 August than on 27 July 1991 for both locations. The amounts of airborne particles and the resulting genotoxic activities were higher at Merced than at Pedregal. In both biological systems, PM10 were more genotoxic than TSP. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of the Drosophila wing SMART-which is an in vivo eukaryotic genotoxicity assay-as a biological monitor of environmental pollution related to airborne particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Delgado-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, México
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Vogel EW, Graf U, Frei HJ, Nivard MM. The results of assays in Drosophila as indicators of exposure to carcinogens. IARC Sci Publ 1999:427-70. [PMID: 10353398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila has fulfilled a dual function in the field of genetic toxicology: for use in short-term tests for identifying carcinogens and in a model for studies of the mechanisms of mutagenesis by chemicals. Until the mid-1980s, use of Drosophila in short-term tests was restricted to assays for genetic damage in germ cells, mostly in males. The largest database, on 700-750 chemicals, is available for the test for sex-linked recessive lethal (SLRL) forward mutation. The database for assays of the consequences of chromosomal breakage--reciprocal translocations and chromosome loss--is smaller, with about 100 chemicals tested. Comparative studies conducted within the US National Toxicology Program showed that SLRL is a better end-point than reciprocal translocation: of 66 chemicals (68 entries) that induced SLRL, only 28 (41%) induced reciprocal translocation. The major weakness of the SLRL assay is its low sensitivity (0.27-0.79) for mammalian genotoxins. A strength of the SLRL mutation test is its high specificity, which is close to 1. Thus, whereas a negative response in Drosophila provides little evidence for genotoxicity, a positive response (SLRL frequency > or = five times the control level) provides good evidence that a chemical is a trans-species mutagen and probably also carcinogenic to mammals. The poor performance of the SLRL test revealed in several collaborative studies led to the development of assays for recombination in somatic cells of Drosophila. Two of these tests have been evaluated for all known classes of genotoxic chemical: the mwh/flr wing spot test on more than 400 chemicals and the white/white+ eye spot test on about 220 chemicals. Of 24 carcinogens that gave negative or inconclusive test results in the SLRL assay, 22 gave positive results in one or both of the somatic systems. Their better performance in comparison with the germ-line assays is primarily the result of their low cost (5-10% of that needed for an SLRL assay), allowing use of multiple doses and protocols and the use of distinct tester strains with heterogeneity for activation of procarcinogens. For qualitative and quantitative studies on structure-activity and activity-activity relationship, only germ-line system have been used. In general, clear relationships between physico-chemical parameters (s values, O6/N7-alkylguanine ratios), carcinogenic potency in rodents and several descriptors of genotoxic activity in germ cells (from mice and Drosophila) became apparent when the following descriptors were used: (1) estimates of TD50 (lifetime doses expressed in milligrams per kilogram body weight or millimoles per kilogram body weight) from bioassays for cancer in rodents; (2) the degree of germ-cell specificity, i.e. the ability of a genotoxic agent to induce mutations at practically any stage of development of Drosophila and mouse spermatogenesis, as opposed to a more specific response in postmeiotic stages of both species; (3) the M(NER-)/M(NER+) hypermutability ratio, determined in a repair assay in Drosophila germ cells; (4) the ratio of chromosomal aberrations to SLRL in postmeiotic germ cells of Drosophila, i.e. the comparative efficiency of a carcinogen to induce these two end-points; (5) mutational spectra induced at single loci, i.e. the seven loci used in the specific-locus test in mice and the vermilion, white and rosy genes of Drosophila; and (6) the doubling doses in milligrams or millimoles per kilogram for specific locus induction in mice. On the basis of these parameters, alkylating agents were classified into three categories in terms of germ-cell specificity, which is primarily due to stage-related differences in DNA repair, clastogenic efficiency, type of mutation spectra and carcinogenic potency in rodents. The three categories allow predictions of the genotoxicity of alkylating agents but not yet for other categories of genotoxic carcinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- E W Vogel
- Medical Genetics Centre South-West Netherlands-MGC, Department of Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Bronchial asthma is a disease that has been recognized for centuries, which is influenced mainly by genetic and environmental factors. The current interest of bronchial asthma is focused to ascertain the causes and the mechanisms that induce bronchoconstriction. Recently, abnormalities of the esophageal and gastric tracts have become important related areas for research. In predisposed individuals, these abnormalities can trigger or worsen the particular syndrome better known as "gastric asthma." In bronchial asthma the disorder of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) occurs more often than would be expected by chance. The neurogenic mechanism is considered to be the main cause of bronchoconstriction. The diagnosis of gastric asthma is particularly difficult and it should be considered also when GER is less evident or not recognized. In asthmatic patients the recognition of gastric abnormalities is very relevant for therapeutic problems also when GER is in a subclinical stage. In fact, many drugs used in the treatment of bronchial asthma can promote or enhance GER and subsequently they can worsen the symptoms of gastric asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica, Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università La Sapienza di Roma, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
Among the great variety of genotoxicity assays available, the wing spot test in Drosophila melanogaster has some characteristics that make it very suited for the screening of genotoxic activity, i.e., it is an easy and inexpensive assay using a eukaryotic organism in vivo. One of the most interesting characteristics of the assay is its capacity to detect genotoxic activity of promutagens without the necessity of an exogenous metabolic activation system. In this paper we present results obtained with a recently developed high bioactivation cross of the wing spot test (NORR cross). The positive results obtained with the five well-known procarcinogens 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene, diethylnitrosamine and urethane clearly show that the NORR strains are similar to the other high bioactivation strains previously described, but they lack their methodological disadvantages. We have tested six insecticides, which are characterised by having contradictory results in other genotoxicity tests, using both the standard and the high bioactivation (NORR) cross. The six insecticides analysed are the pyrethroid allethrin, the methylenedioxyphenolic compound piperonyl butoxide, the chlorinated hydrocarbons dieldrin and endrin, and the organophosphates dimethoate and malathion. We obtained negative results for all six compounds. Our results show the suitability of the wing spot test for the evaluation of compounds at the first level of genotoxicity testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Osaba
- Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Basque Country, E-48080, Bilbao, Spain
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Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melangaster with its well developed array of genotoxicity test systems has been used in a number of studies on antigenotoxicity of various compounds and mixtures. In recent years, the newly developed Somatic Mutation and Recombination Tests (SMART) have mainly been employed. These one-generation tests make use of the wing or eye imaginal disc cells in larvae and have proven to be very efficient and sensitive. They are based on the principle that the loss of heterozygosity of suitable recessive markers can lead to the formation of mutant clones of cells that are then expressed as spots on the wings or eyes of the adult flies. We have employed the wing spot test with the two markers multiple wing hairs (mwh,3-0.3) and flare (flr,3-38.8). Three-day-old larvae, trans-heterozygous for these markers, are treated chronically or acutely by oral administration with the test compound(s) or complex mixtures. For antigenotoxicity studies, chronic co-treatments can be used, as well as separate pre-treatments with an antigenotoxic agent followed by a chronic treatment with a genotoxin. After eclosion, the wings of the adult flies are scored for the presence of single and twin spots. These spots can be due to different genotoxic events: either mitotic recombination or mutation (deletion, point mutation, specific types of translocation, etc.). The analysis of two different genotypes (one with structurally normal chromosomes, one with a multiply inverted balancer chromosome) allows for a quantitative determination of the recombinagenic activity of genotoxins. Results of two separate studies presented: (1) instant coffee has antirecombinagenic but not antimutagenic activity in the wing spot test; and (2) ascorbic acid and catechin are able to protect against in vivo nitrosation products of methyl urea in combination with sodium nitrite.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and University of Zurich, Zurich CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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34
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Guzmán Rincón J, Espinosa J, Graf U. Analysis of the in vivo nitrosation capacity of the larvae used in the wing somatic mutation and recombination test of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutat Res 1998; 412:69-81. [PMID: 9508366 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5718(97)00174-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The in vivo nitrosation capacity of third-instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster was assessed using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART). Larvate derived from two different crosses, the standard cross (ST) and the high bioactivation cross (HB) both involving the recessive wing cell markers multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare (flr3), were used. The HB cross is characterised by an increased cytochrome P450-dependent bioactivation capacity for promutagens and procarcinogens. The larvae were treated either with methyl urea, sodium nitrite or its combination. N-Nitrosomethylurea was used as a positive control. The wings of the resulting flies were analysed for the occurrence of mutant spots produced by various types of mutational events or by mitotic recombination. Methyl urea is negative in the ST and the HB cross, whereas sodium nitrite is weakly genotoxic in both crosses. However, the combination of both compounds produces highly increased frequencies of mutations and recombinations predominantly in the HB cross. The genotoxic effects produced by the combined treatments were considerably increased when mashed potatoes or an agar-yeast medium were used for the treatment instead of the standard instant medium. Treatment of larvae with the mixture resulting from the in vitro reaction of nitrosation precursors also resulted in high frequencies of induced spots comparable to those recorded with the potent genotoxin N-nitrosomethylurea. Further experiments showed that the genotoxic effect resulting from the in vivo exposure to nitrosation precursors can be reduced by co-treatment with catechin, a known nitrosation inhibitor. The present study demonstrates that the wing spot test is well suited for the determination of genotoxicity produced by in vivo nitrosation processes and for the study of their modulation by individual compounds or dietary complex mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guzmán Rincón
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and University of Zurich, Schwerzenbach
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Campesato VR, Graf U, Reguly ML, de Andrade HH. Recombinagenic activity of integerrimine, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid from Senecio brasiliensis, in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Environ Mol Mutagen 1997; 29:91-97. [PMID: 9020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Integerrimine (ITR), a pyrrolizidine alkaloid from Senecio brasiliensis, was tested for genotoxicity using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. The compound was administered by chronic feeding (48 hours) of 3-day-old larvae. Two different crosses involving the markers flare (flr) and multiple wing hairs (mwh) were used, that is, the standard (ST) cross and the high bioactivation (HB) cross, which has a high cytochrome P450-dependent bioactivation capacity. In both crosses, the wings of two types of progeny were analyzed, that is, inversion-free marker heterozygotes and balancer heterozygotes carrying multiple inversions. ITR was found to be equally potent in inducing spots in a dose-related manner in the marker heterozygotes of both crosses. This indicates that the bioactivation capacity present in larvae of the ST cross is sufficient to reveal the genotoxic activity of ITR. In the balancer heterozygotes of both crosses, where all recombinational events are eliminated due to the inversions, the frequencies of induced spots were considerably reduced which documents the recombinagenic activity of ITR. Linear regression analysis of the dose response relationships for both genotypes shows that 85% to 90% of the wing spots are due to mitotic recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- V R Campesato
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil
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Feige K, Steiger R, Graf U, Schöberl M. [Peritonitis in horses: a retrospective study of 95 cases]. Tierarztl Prax 1997; 25:55-61. [PMID: 9157631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Clinical signs of horses with peritonitis were colic (67.4%), elevated heart rate (53.2%), altered mucous membranes (75.8%), reduced intestinal motility (63.2%), increased tension of the abdominal wall (69.9%) and pyrexia (45.1%). The amount of obtained peritoneal fluid was increased in 62.3% of the horses. Colour and translucency of the peritoneal fluid were abnormal in 98.8% of the patients. The nucleated cell count was 83.5 (10-595) x 10(3)/microliter, protein content 35.6 g/l (+/-14.2), specific gravity 1027.3 (+/-7.4) and the relative amount of neutrophils was 87.8% (+/-11). The physical examination and the examination of the peritoneal fluid were of diagnostic value. Complete blood count and blood chemistry indicated the degree of circulatory depression and the duration of the disease. Overall mortality was 47.4% (45/95). Non-survivors had significantly more often an increased heart- and respiratory rate, altered mucous membranes, an increased tension of the abdominal wall, reduced intestinal motility and increased amount of peritoneal fluid. Packed cell volume, urea, creatinine, glutamatdehydrogenase, sorbitoldehydrogenase, lactatdehydrogenase and blood pH were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. All these parameters were statistically of no prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Feige
- Klinik für Wiederkäuer- und Pferdemedizin, Universität Zürich
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Rodriguez-Arnaiz R, Soto PO, Oyarzún JC, Graf U. Analysis of mitotic recombination induced by several mono- and bifunctional alkylating agents in the Drosophila wing-spot test. Mutat Res 1996; 351:133-45. [PMID: 8622707 DOI: 10.1016/0027-5107(95)00217-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Mitotic recombination induced by six alkylating agents has been studied in the wing-spot test of Drosophila melanogaster. The model mutagens chosen have different models of action at the DNA level. These are: the direct-acting small alkylating agent methylmethanesulfonate (MMS), the small promutagens N-dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN), the bifunctional cross-linking alkylating agents mitomycin C (MMC), chlorambucil (CLA) and monocrotaline (MCT). Flies of the standard cross (flr3 / TM3, Bds females and mwh males) were used to produce the larvae to be treated. Three-day old Drosophila larvae were exposed by chronic feeding for 48 h to three different concentrations of all six alkylating agents. Acute feeding for only 2 h was used in addition with DEN and MMC. Wings of the marker-heterozygous (mwh+ / + flr3) as well as of the balancer-heterozygous (mwh+ / TM3, Bds) progeny were analysed. The ranking of the compounds with respect to their genotoxic potency, based on mwh clone formation frequency in marker-heterozygous wings was: MMS > MNC > DMN > CLA approximately MCT > DEN. The ranking with respect to the induction of twin spots, which are produced by mitotic recombination exclusively, was: MMS > DMN > MMC > MCT > CLA > DEN. The quantitative determination of recombinagenic activity, based on mwh clone formation frequencies obtained in both types of wings, gave the following values: MMS, 93%; MCT, 87%; CLA, 80%; MMC, 73%; DMN, 67%; DEN, 22%. A clear relationship exists between the extent of N-alkylation of DNA and the efficiency of the monofunctional agents MMS and DMN as well of the bifunctional agents MCT, CLA and MMC to induce mitotic recombination. This contrasts with the ethylation of base oxygen atoms and the resulting lower efficiency of DEN to produce mitotic recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Rodriguez-Arnaiz
- Laboratorio de Genética, Fakultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., Mexico
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Graf U, Würgler FE. The somatic white-ivory eye spot test does not detect the same spectrum of genotoxic events as the wing somatic mutation and recombination test in Drosophila melanogaster. Environ Mol Mutagen 1996; 27:219-226. [PMID: 8625958 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2280(1996)27:3<219::aid-em7>3.0.co;2-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
A groups of six chemical compounds was tested in parallel in two different somatic genotoxicity assays in Drosophila melanogaster, the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) and the white-ivory eye spot test. The wing spot test makes use of the wing cell markers multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare (flr) and detects both mitotic recombination and various types of mutational events. The white-ivory eye spot test makes use of the white-ivory (wi) quadruplication and detects the somatic reversion of the recessive eye color mutation wi to the wild-type (w+). Three- or two-day-old larvae were fed chronically with the compounds ethylnitrosourea (ENU), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NNP), caffeine (CAF), chromium (VI) oxide (CRO), potassium chromate (POC), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). All six compounds are genotoxic to various degrees in the wing spot test. The percentage of the genotoxic activity that is due to mitotic recombination was between 84% and 91% for the hexavalent chromium compounds CRO and POC and about 68% for 2,4-D. In contrast, ENU and NNP showed only 46% and 25% recombinagenic activity, respectively. In the white-ivory eye spot test, the three compounds (CRO, POC, and 2,4-D) with high recombinagenic activity and CAF were clearly nongenotoxic, whereas only ENU and NNP gave a positive response. From these results, it is concluded that the spectrum of genotoxic events detected by the two assays is different. In particular, the white-ivory eye spot test appears not to detect mitotic recombination the way the wing spot test does.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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Abstract
The protective effects of coffee against somatic mutation and mitotic recombination induced by cyclophosphamide (CPH), mitomycin C (MMC) and urethane (URE) were evaluated in the standard (ST) and high bioactivation (HB) crosses of the wing spot test in Drosophila melanogaster. These two crosses are characterized by different constitutive levels of cytochrome )-450-dependent enzyme activities. 3-day old larvae transheterozygous for the wing cell markers mwh (multiple wing hairs) and flr3 (flare3) were fed until pupation on medium containing a genotoxin alone or its combination with different concentrations of instant coffee. subsequently, the wings of the resulting adult flies were analysed for detecting single spots (mwh or flr3) originating from mutational or recombinational events as well as twin spots (mwh and flr3) originating exclusively from recombination. The results showed high sensitivity of the HB cross to URE. Co-administration of instant coffee was effective in exerting significant dose-related inhibitory effects on the genotoxicity of URE in the ST and the genetically susceptible HB cross. Similarly, coffee showed significant dose-related inhibitory effects on the genotoxicity of MMC in both crosses. The same protective effect was also observed with one concentration of coffee in combination with CPH. Pretreatment of 2-day-old HB larvae with coffee for 24 hr followed by treatment with URE was also effective in significantly reducing the induction of mutation and recombination. The magnitude of the protective effects of coffee against these three genotoxins was independent of the genotype of the larvae used for treatment, that is it was independent of the bioactivation capacity of these larvae. The study demonstrates the suitability of this assay for obtaining qualitative and quantitative data on the result of interactions among a genotoxin, an inhibitor of genotoxicity and bioactivation capacity of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Abraham
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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Graf U. [Neurolinguistic programming in physician-patient communication. Basic principles of the procedure--examples for application in surgery]. Fortschr Med 1995; 113:368-71. [PMID: 7498856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurolinguistic programming (NLP) is a means of improving physician-patient communication that can be learned by any doctor. The present article first describes some of the fundamentals of NLP and then provides examples taken from the field of surgery-in the first instance dealing with the treatment of painful conditions by means of trance or dissociation and, secondly, on the influencing of expectations and the restructuring (reframing) of doctrines in a patient with malignant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Abteilung für Allgemein- und Gefässchirurgie, Stauferklinik, Mutlangen
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Cunha KS, Campesato VR, Reguly ML, Gimmler-Luz MC, Graf U, de Andrade HH. Tannic acid is not mutagenic in germ cells but weakly genotoxic in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutagenesis 1995; 10:291-5. [PMID: 7476264 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/10.4.291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tannic acid (TA) was tested for genotoxic activity in three different assays (1-3) in Drosophila melanogaster by feeding of larvae or adult flies. TA did not induce sex-linked recessive lethals (1) nor sex-chromosome loss, mosaicism or non-disjunction (2) in male germ cells. In the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) (3) TA was found to be toxic for larvae of the high bioactivation cross and produced a weak positive response. These results suggest that this compound, when administered orally to larvae or adults of D. melanogaster, is not mutagenic and clastogenic in male germ cells, but weakly genotoxic in somatic cells of the wing imaginal disk.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Cunha
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil
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Graf U. Analysis of the relationship between age of larvae at mutagen treatment and frequency and size of spots in the wing somatic mutation and recombination test in Drosophila melanogaster. Experientia 1995; 51:168-73. [PMID: 7875256 DOI: 10.1007/bf01929364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between the induction of mutant clones and the time of mutagen treatment was studied in the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in wing cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Larvae trans-heterozygous for the recessive marker mutations multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare (flr) were produced. Batches of these larvae were then treated with mutagen at different ages spanning all three larval instars. Methyl methanesulfonate was fed acutely for 2 h by immersing the larvae in a solution of the mutagen mixed with powdered cellulose. Wings of the surviving adult flies were mounted and scored for the presence of spots. The frequency and size of single and twin spots were recorded separately. Twin spots are produced exclusively by mitotic recombination, whereas single spots can result from various types of mutational and exchange events. There exists a clear correlation between time of induction and frequency as well as size of the single spots. In young larvae only few but very large spots are induced, whereas in older larvae the frequencies are considerably increased but the sizes are smaller. The twin spots show a different relationship. Practically no twin spots are found in very young and in very old larvae. The results demonstrate that in the wing spot test the optimal age of the larvae for mutagen treatment is 72 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Schwerzenbach
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Delgado-Rodriguez A, Ortíz-Marttelo R, Graf U, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Gómez-Arroyo S. Genotoxic activity of environmentally important polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their nitro derivatives in the wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutat Res 1995; 341:235-47. [PMID: 7531283 DOI: 10.1016/0165-1218(95)90095-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The genotoxicity of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and of three of their nitro derivatives was evaluated in the wing Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. Two crosses were used, i.e. the standard cross (ST) and the improved high bioactivation cross (HB) which is characterised by an increased sensitivity to the genotoxic effects of promutagens and procarcinogens. Larvae trans-heterozygous for the two recessive wing cell markers multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare (flr3) were fed with the test compounds for 48 h. The wings of the surviving flies were analysed for the occurrence of single and twin spots. Naphthalene, 1-nitronaphthalene and 1,5-dinitronaphthalene proved to be more genotoxic in the HB cross than in the ST cross. Anthracene showed a clear genotoxic activity only in the HB cross whereas it was negative in the ST cross. 9-Nitroanthracene gave inconsistent results in both crosses. Phenanthrene was negative in the ST cross, but weakly positive in the HB cross. These results demonstrate that the genotoxic activity of these PAHs and their nitro derivatives can be detected with the somatic cells of the wing imaginal discs of larvae with high bioactivation capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Delgado-Rodriguez
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlax, México
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Condrau MA, Schwendener RA, Zimmermann M, Muser MH, Graf U, Niederer P, Anliker M. Time-resolved flow cytometry for the measurement of lanthanide chelate fluorescence: II. Instrument design and experimental results. Cytometry 1994; 16:195-205. [PMID: 7924688 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.990160303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
A time-resolved flow cytometer capable of measuring a luminescence with a decay time in the range of 10 microseconds to 2 ms, typical for some lanthanide chelates, is presented. The instrument permits acquisition of conventional light scatter and prompt fluorescence signals as well as detection of slowly decaying luminescence by a photon counting unit for a selectable time period of 1 microsecond to 1 ms. During photon counting, the laser beam is turned off by an acoustooptic deflector. The design of a flow chamber with an average geometrical light collection efficiency of 35% over a distance of 1.7 mm is presented and analyzed by ray tracing. A pulse processing system featuring digital integration of the conventional signals and a transputer system for the acquisition and the transfer of the measured parameter values to a host computer is described. Instrument function is verified with lyophilized human lymphocytes stained for the CD8 antigen with dye-loaded liposomes. Quantitation of cell-associated europium chelate fluorescence, displaying a decay time of 1.6 ms, is demonstrated. Elimination of fast decaying background emission generated by DNA-associated ethidium bromide is shown. The background generated by instrument components in the time-gated measurement channel is characterized, and measures for its complete elimination are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Condrau
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, The University, Zurich, Switzerland
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Graf U, Moraga AA, Castro R, Díaz Carrillo E. Genotoxicity testing of different types of beverages in the Drosophila wing Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test. Food Chem Toxicol 1994; 32:423-30. [PMID: 8206441 DOI: 10.1016/0278-6915(94)90040-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Five wines and one brandy of Spanish origin as well as three herbal teas and ordinary black tea were tested for genotoxicity in the wing Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test (SMART) which makes use of the two recessive wing cell markers multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare (flr3) on the left arm of chromosome 3 of Drosophila melanogaster. 3-day-old larvae trans-heterozygous for these two markers were fed the beverages at different concentrations and for different feeding periods using Drosophila instant medium. Somatic mutations or mitotic recombinations induced in the cells of the wing imaginal discs give rise to mutant single or twin spots on the wing blade of the emerging adult flies showing either the mwh phenotype or/and the flr phenotype. One of the red wines showed a clear genotoxic activity that was not due to its ethanol content. Two herbal teas (Urtica dioica, Achillea millefolium) and black tea (Camellia sinensis) proved to be weakly genotoxic as well. Furthermore, it was shown that quercetin and rutin, two flavonols present in beverages of plant origin, also exhibited weak genotoxic activity in the somatic cells of Drosophila. These results demonstrate that Drosophila in vivo somatic assays can detect the genotoxicity of complex mixtures such as beverages. In particular, it is possible to administer these test materials in the same form as that in which they are normally consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Schwerzenbach
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Delgado-Rodriguez A, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Gómez-Arroyo S, Graf U. Latin American Workshop on Genetic Toxicology. I. Drosophila melanogaster. Mutat Res 1994; 312:193-4. [PMID: 7510832 DOI: 10.1016/0165-1161(94)90025-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A Delgado-Rodriguez
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Mexico
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van Schaik N, Graf U. Structure-activity relationships of tricyclic antidepressants and related compounds in the wing somatic mutation and recombination test of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutat Res 1993; 286:155-63. [PMID: 7681526 DOI: 10.1016/0027-5107(93)90179-j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Four antidepressants and one neuroleptic drug were tested for genotoxicity using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in wing cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Three-day-old larvae trans-heterozygous for two linked recessive wing hair mutations (multiple wing hairs and flare) were fed the test compounds in water or solvents mixed with a standard dry food for 48 h. Wings of the emerging adult flies were scored for the presence of spots of mutant cells which can result from either somatic mutation or mitotic recombination. The tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine, which is closely related to imipramine (previously shown to be genotoxic in somatic cells of Drosophila), was clearly genotoxic at concentrations above 10 mM. The structurally related antidepressants lofepramine and mianserin were positive only at 100 mM which is the maximum tolerated dose. The antidepressant maprotiline and the antipsychotic chlorpromazine, which are distinguished from the other compounds by a 6-membered central ring instead of a 7-membered one, were not genotoxic in the same dose range. These results lend further support for the hypothesis that an N atom in the heterocyclic 7-membered ring of the tricyclic molecule is responsible for the genotoxic property of the compounds in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- N van Schaik
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Schwerzenbach
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Schlatter J, Würgler FE, Kränzlin R, Maier P, Holliger E, Graf U. The potential genotoxicity of sorbates: effects on cell cycle in vitro in V79 cells and somatic mutations in Drosophila. Food Chem Toxicol 1992; 30:843-51. [PMID: 1427506 DOI: 10.1016/0278-6915(92)90049-q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate and an oxidation product of sodium sorbate, 4,5-epoxy-2-hexenoic acid, were tested for their genotoxic potential in cultured V79 Chinese hamster cells and in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster (wing spot test, SMART). In Drosophila only the epoxide showed a weak genotoxic effect. In V79 cells, freshly prepared sodium sorbate solutions at the highest concentrations only (2.5 mg/ml, 24 hr exposure) arrested mitosis at the G2/M cell cycle phase and potassium sorbate (2.5 mg/ml) had no effect. This arrest was reversible after a 24-hr recovery interval. Sodium sorbate solutions stored for up to 208 days were cytotoxic at 2.5 mg/ml, induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and increased cellular protein content, indicating an action similar to spindle poisoning and a chemical stress reaction (adaptation processes, modification of transcription). Potassium sorbate solutions stored for 28 days were also cytotoxic. With 4,5-epoxy-2-hexenoic acid at concentrations up to 0.01 mg/ml no effects were seen. At higher concentrations (at least 0.1 mg/ml) cell killing was observed, which probably resulted from unphysiologically lowered pH in the culture medium. Overall, the results are interpreted as an indication of a weak genotoxic potential of stored sodium sorbate solutions. Thus, sorbic acid and its potassium salt at the concentrations used for food preservation can still be considered as safe for human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Schlatter
- Toxicology Section, Federal Office of Public Health, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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Graf U, Heo OS, Ramirez OO. The genotoxicity of chromium(VI) oxide in the wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster is over 90% due to mitotic recombination. Mutat Res 1992; 266:197-203. [PMID: 1373829 DOI: 10.1016/0027-5107(92)90187-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chromium(VI) oxide and chromium(III) chloride were tested in the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster according to standard procedures. The hexavalent compound was highly genotoxic in both chronic and acute treatments whereas the trivalent one was clearly negative. Further analysis of wings carrying an inversion chromosome which eliminates all recombination events showed that over 90% of the spots induced by chromium(VI) oxide are due to mitotic recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Schwerzenbach
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Abstract
The potent food mutagen and carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5- f]quinoline (IQ) and the structurally related heterocyclic aromatic amines 2-aminoimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (demethyl-IQ) and 2-amino-1-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (iso-IQ) were assayed for genotoxicity in the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) as well as in the sex-linked recessive lethal (SLRL) test in Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, 3-methyl-2-nitroimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (nitro-IQ), 2-nitrofluorene and 1,8-dinitropyrene were also assayed in the wing spot test. IQ was clearly mutagenic in the SLRL test with highest activity in spermatids. Iso-IQ was more active than IQ whereas demethyl-IQ was inactive in this test. The same pattern of results was obtained in the wing SMART: iso-IQ produced greater than 2-fold higher frequencies of spots than IQ and demethyl-IQ was clearly negative. In addition, nitro-IQ exhibited an approximately equal genotoxic activity as IQ. 2-Nitrofluorene and 1,8-dinitropyrene were both inactive in the wing spot test. These data provide good evidence for a correlation of genotoxic effects in germinal and somatic cells, and for the practical advantage of the wing spot test in Drosophila. Moreover, the results show structure-activity relationships among the heterocyclic aromatic amines and nitro compounds similar to those found in Salmonella.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Institute of Toxicology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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