engleski

Evaluation of DNA damage in white blood cells of healthy human volunteers using the alkaline comet assay

Understanding of the normal levels of DNA damage in the general population is essential for the proper interpretation of data obtained by monitoring of populations occupationally or accidentally exposed to known or potentially genotoxic agents. Present study was undertaken to investigate how the variability in baseline damage in white blood cells from healthy human donors is associated with external and internal factors. Altogether 170 healthy donors, randomly selected from the general population of the Republic of Croatia, participated in the study. Using the alkaline comet assay and a computer-based image analysis system in each blood sample 100 comets were evaluated. As a measure of DNA damage in this study tail length was used. Individual values of DNA migration in white blood cells were in the range 12.10 &plusmn ; ; 1.49 to 15.91 &plusmn ; ; 2.24 mm (average value 14.25 &plusmn ; ; 0.80 mm ; the median 14.31 mm). The results confirmed inter-individual differences, indicating different genome sensitivity. As revealed by present analysis, smoking habit mostly influenced the background levels of DNA damage. Gender and age did not significantly contribute to the pattern of DNA migration in white blood cells. Although the highest levels of primary DNA damage were recorded in blood samples collected in autumn, we presume that they were mostly affected by smoking status and diagnostic exposure, rather than the irradiation from environmental sources. The data obtained point to the significance of regular biomonitoring of unexposed populations and can serve as control values in forthcoming biomonitoring studies.

DNA damage; white blood cells; human; comet assay

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