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Enhancement of SCE frequency by alpha‐naphthoflavone in cultured lymphocytes in relation to environmental factors
Author(s) -
Sbrana Isabella,
Luccini Antonella,
Landi Stefano,
Barale Roberto
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.2850260409
Subject(s) - sister chromatid exchange , genotoxicity , carcinogen , xenobiotic , monooxygenase , sister chromatids , metabolism , biology , in vitro , lymphocyte , toxicology , mutagen , toxicity , chemistry , genetics , biochemistry , cytochrome p450 , medicine , gene , enzyme , chromosome
Abstract One hundred and nine healthy subjects living in an urban area of Tuscany were monitored using sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis on lymphocytes cultured in standard or alpha‐naphthoflavone (ANF)‐supplemented medium in order to collect the most complete data possible for those constitutional and environmental factors with which genotoxic risk can be associated. ANF genotoxicity depends on its metabolic activation by cellular P‐450 monooxygenase systems whose activity can be modulated by exposure to carcinogenic but nongenotoxic xenobiotics. Lymphocytes grown in standard conditions showed a significant increase of SCE frequency associated with smoking habits and age. Although the addition of ANF caused an upward shift of SCE frequency in all subjects, smokers, coffee drinkers, and blue‐collar workers showed a significantly higher SCE level; this suggests that potential risk factors rising from a modified cell metabolism are present in these categories. These results indicate that in vitro ANF treatment of lymphocytes could be a useful tool in the detection of environmental exposure to those classes of chemicals involved in metabolic activation of promutagens. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.