Discrimination between complete and incomplete chromosome exchanges in X-irradiated human lymphocytes using FISH with pan-centromeric and chromosome specific DNA probes in combination with telomeric PNA probe

PURPOSE

To discriminate precisely between radiation-induced complete and incomplete chromosome exchanges using chromosome painting together with the detection of the centromeres and telomeres in one FISH assay.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human lymphocytes were exposed in vitro to X-rays at a dose of 4 Gy. Chromosome aberrations were analysed using the FISH technique in combination with a whole chromosome-specific DNA probe for chromosome 8, human pan-centromeric DNA and telomeric PNA probes.

RESULTS

The combined FISH assay has improved the resolution of detecting chromosomal exchanges in human lymphocytes. Results indicate that the frequency of observed incomplete exchange patterns was 21% when telomeric signals were ignored during the analysis. When the telomeric signals were included in the analysis a large proportion of apparently incomplete exchange patterns appeared complete and should be re-classified. The percentage of true incomplete exchanges was found to be less than 5%.

CONCLUSION

The combination of chromosome painting and the detection of centromeres and telomeres enable unequivocal discrimination between incomplete and complete exchanges. The fraction of true incomplete exchanges observed in X-irradiated human lymphocytes was found to be low in comparison with previous reports in the literature.

Genotoxic effects of heterocyclic aromatic amines in human derived hepatoma (HepG2) cells

In order to study the mutagenic effects of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in cells of human origin, five compounds, namely 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3, 4-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3, 8-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), the pyridoimidazo derivative 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), were tested in micronucleus (MN) assays with a human derived hepatoma (HepG2) cell line. All HAAs caused significant, dose-dependent effects. The activities of IQ, MeIQ, MeIQx and PhIP were similar (lowest effective concentrations 25-50 microM), whereas Trp-P-1 was effective at a dose of >/=2.1 microM. In addition, the HAAs were tested in MN assays with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and in Salmonella strain YG1024 using HepG2 cell homogenates as an activation mix. In the CHO experiments, positive results were obtained with Trp-P-1 and PhIP, whereas the other compounds were devoid of activity under all experimental conditions. The discrepancy in the responsivity of the two cell lines is probably due to differences in their acetylation capacity: enzyme measurements with 2-aminofluorene as a substrate revealed that the cytosolic acetyltransferase activity in the HepG2 cells is approximately 40-fold higher than that of the CHO cells. In the bacterial assays all five HAAs gave positive results but the ranking order was completely different from that seen in the HepG2/MN experiments (IQ > MeIQ > Trp-P-1 >/= MeIQx >> PhIP) and the mutagenic potencies of the various compounds varied over several orders of magnitude. The order obtained in bacterial tests with rat liver S9 mix was more or less identical to that seen in the tests with HepG2 cell homogenates but the concentrations of the amines required to give positive results were in general substantially lower (10(-5)-10(-1) microM). Overall, the results of the present study indicate that MN/HepG2 tests might reflect the mutagenic effects of HAAs more adequately than other in vitro mammalian cell systems due to the presence of enzymes involved in the metabolic conversion of the amines.

Induction and persistence of chromosomal exchanges in mouse bone marrow cells following whole-body exposure to X-rays

PURPOSE

To investigate the induction and persistence of chromosome aberrations in mouse bone marrow cells after X-ray exposure and to detect differential involvement of individual chromosomes in translocations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male and female Swiss mice were exposed to 1 and 3 Gy of X-rays. Chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells were analysed at 1, 7, 21 and 100 days following irradiation by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with mouse chromosome-specific DNA libraries (#1,13; #2,8; #6,15 and X,Y). In total, 38% of mouse genome was painted and examined.

RESULTS

Pooled data indicate that the frequencies of dicentrics and fragments decreased with time and reached to the control level at day 21 after exposure. Following exposure to 1 Gy of X-rays, the frequencies of translocations were not significantly lower between days 7 and 100 than observed at day 1. However, the frequencies of translocations for the 3 Gy group were significantly (about 40%) lower at day 7, then remained constant up to day 100. After exposure to 3Gy of X-rays, the frequencies of non-reciprocal translocations decreased with time, whereas reciprocal translocations between days 7 and 100 were not significantly less frequent than at day 1. A comparison of observed and expected numbers of translocations involving individual chromosomes showed that at day 1 after irradiation, distribution of X-ray-induced translocations among the painted chromosomes was proportional to their DNA content. However, at day 100 after exposure, the observed translocations involving chromosome 2 were more frequent than expected, those involving chromosomes 8 and 15 were less frequent than expected, while chromosomes 1, 6, X and Y were involved as frequently as expected.

CONCLUSION

Among induced translocations, non-reciprocal translocations are relatively unstable, especially after exposure to high-dose X-rays. While the initial distribution of X-ray-induced translocations is proportional among the painted chromosomes, the persistence of these translocations is heterogeneous.

Comparison of AluI-induced frequencies of dicentrics and translocations in human lymphocytes by chromosome painting

It has been shown repeatedly that following irradiation of human lymphocytes in the G0 stage, more translocations are induced than dicentrics. To check the role of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) alone for the induction of symmetrical and asymmetrical chromosome aberrations, the frequencies of induced exchange aberrations by the restriction enzyme AluI were analyzed. The enzyme was introduced into cells using the pellet pipetting technique. Frequencies of induced translocations and dicentrics were determined using a chromosome painting assay with chromosome-specific DNA libraries for chromosomes 1, 4 and X (representing 16.8% of the human genome). The number of translocations detected was approximately 3-fold higher than the number of dicentrics, indicating that the increased frequency of translocations compared with dicentrics found in irradiated human lymphocytes does not result from DNA lesions other than DSB but from differential processing of DSB.

Correlation between cell reproductive death and chromosome aberrations assessed by FISH for low and high doses of radiation and sensitization by iodo-deoxyuridine in human SW-1573 cells

PURPOSE

To study the relationship between cell reproductive death and exchange frequency in SW-1573 human lung tumour cells with and without incorporated iodo-deoxyuridine (IdUrd) following irradiation of plateau-phase cultures with y-rays.

METHOD

Linear-quadratic (LQ) analysis was performed for the data on clonogenic survival and on the frequency of chromosomal exchanges studied with fluorescence in situ hybridization in chromosomes X and 2.

RESULTS

Differences in the LQ parameters alpha and beta of both non-sensitized and sensitized chromosomes were found. In both chromosomes an increase in the number of chromosomal exchanges in IdUrd-radiosensitized cells compared with non-sensitized cells was observed. The alpha-enhancement factors of 1.7 and 1.9 for the X-chromosome and for chromosome 2, respectively, are similar. For the X-chromosome, the beta coefficient increased by a factor of 3.9 and for chromosome 2 by a factor of 1.4. After correction to a full genome equivalence, no significant difference in alpha was found between chromosomes X and 2 for both control and sensitized cells. In contrast, an almost 2.8 times higher beta was found for the sensitized X-chromosome compared to this value for chromosome 2.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that the linear-quadratic analysis of dose-response relationships offers insights into the correlation between cell survival and induction of exchanges in non-sensitized and radiosensitized cells.

Dual-colour FISH analysis to characterize a marker chromosome in cytochrome P450 2B1 recombinant V79 Chinese hamster cells

Recombinant V79 Chinese hamster cell lines have been constructed for the expression of useful functions, e.g. cytochromes P450, in order to study metabolism-dependent toxicity. Recombinant cell lines are derived as single clones upon gene transfer and selection from the parental V79 cell line. It is of fundamental importance for a reliable application of the recombinant cell lines to show that the original biological characteristics of the parental line are maintained. As part of these efforts, fluorescence in situ hybridization with Chinese hamster chromosome-specific DNA libraries was performed in order to identify the origin of the chromosomes from which a marker chromosome present in the recombinant cell line V79MZr2B1 was derived, which could not be identified by standard cytogenetic techniques.

Development of test systems for the detection of compounds that prevent the genotoxic effects of heterocyclic aromatic amines: preliminary results with constituents of cruciferous vegetables and other dietary constituents

Over the past decades, strong efforts have been made to identify dietary constituents that protect against the genotoxic effects of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). However, most of the methods that have been used, in particular in vitro assays that require the addition of exogenous enzyme homogenates, have only a limited predictive value because important protective mechanisms are not adequately represented and may give misleading results. Therefore, we attempted to develop improved test systems, namely assays, with human hepatoma cells and single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) tests with rats. Genotoxicity tests with human derived Hep G2 cells reflect the genotoxic effects of HAAs better than other in vitro systems. They also enable the detection of protective effects since the human derived hepatoma cells possess phase I and phase II enzymes that are involved in the activation/ detoxification of the amines. The most appropriate endpoint for experiments with Hep G2 cells appears to be micronucleus induction, but protocols for other endpoints are available as well. The second promising model is the SCGE ("comet") assay with rats that was used successfully to measure protective effects of constituents of cruciferous vegetables against 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-flquinoline (IQ) in the liver and in the colon mucosa. The present study describes the experimental design of the new approaches, as well as results obtained with various dietary constituents.

Chromosomal aberrations, sister-chromatid exchanges, cells with high frequency of SCE, micronuclei and comet assay parameters in 1, 3-butadiene-exposed workers

The association of occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene (BD) and induction of cytogenetic damage in peripheral lymphocytes was studied in 19 male workers from a monomer production unit and 19 control subjects from a heat production unit. The exposure to BD was measured by passive personal monitors. The following biomarkers were used: chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), cells with a high frequency of SCE (HFC), micronuclei, comet assay parameters like tail length (TL) and percentage of DNA in tail [T (%)] and polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes. BD exposure with a median value of 0.53 mg/m3 (range: 0.024-23.0) significantly increased (a) the percentage of cells with chromosomal aberrations in exposed vs. control groups (3.11% vs. 2.03%, P<0.01), (b) the frequency of SCE per cell (6.96 vs. 4.87, P<0.001), and (c) the percentage of HFC (19.9% vs. 4.1%, P<0.001). BD exposure had no significant effects on formation of micronuclei and on comet assay parameters. Effect of smoking was observed only for HFC in BD-exposed group. GSTM1 genotype affected chromosomal aberrations in exposed group, while GSTT1 genotype affected chromosomal aberrations in controls. No effect of GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotypes was observed on any other biomarkers used.

Cytogenetic effects on lymphocytes in osteoporotic patients on long-term fluoride therapy

The genotoxicity of fluoride in vivo in seven patients with osteoporosis was cytogenetically investigated. The patients were treated with fluoride-containing formulations (disodium monofluorophosphate and sodium fluoride) for a period of 15 months up to 49 months. Fluoride intake ranged from 22.6-33.9 mg F/day and serum fluoride concentrations were between 0.1 mg F/l and 0.2 mg F/l. Peripheral blood lymphocytes of these patients were cultured in vitro and examined for chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated lymphocytes as well as cell cycle progression. When a comparison was made between patients' group and a matched control group, it was found that fluoride at the tested concentrations had no detectable genotoxic potential in human.

Kinetics of the formation of chromosome aberrations in X-irradiated human lymphocytes, using PCC and FISH

In order to study the initial frequencies and define kinetics of the formation of chromosomal exchanges in X-irradiated human lymphocytes, the premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique was employed in combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a composite probe for human chromosome 8 and a pan-centromeric probe for the whole genome. Human lymphocytes were X-irradiated (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 Gy), fused with mitotic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells immediately or 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 h after irradiation. Immediately after irradiation chromosomal breaks, dicentrics and translocations showed a linear dose-response. Unrejoined chromosome breaks were the most frequent types of aberrations (about 85%) observed. About 15% of total aberrations were chromosome exchanges of 65% of these were translocations and 35% were dicentrics. The chromosomal exchanges initially observed were mostly incomplete, with no complex exchanges at doses of 1 and 2 Gy, at higher doses (3-6 Gy) complex exchanges were observed and their frequencies increased with increasing post incubation time. Following different recovery times, repair kinetics of breaks for different doses of irradiation was studied. The shapes of the curves obtained for breaks as well as chromosome exchanges were linear-quadratic. The linear yield component, alpha, is formed entirely in the fast process that can be manifested in the early plateau, while component beta developed slowly in the subsequent hours. The kinetics of breaks rejoining was exponential, almost 50% of breaks rejoined after 1 h and at 18 h about 20% of breaks remained. At low doses of 1 and 2 Gy most of the exchanges were formed immediately and at higher doses, the frequency of exchanges increased with kinetics similar to that observed for the rejoining of breaks. However, the kinetics was different for different doses of irradiation. The frequency of dicentrics increased at doses above 2 Gy following 3 h recovery time, but for the translocations effect was pronounced even at 1 h recovery time. The frequency of incomplete exchanges (i.e., terminal translocations) decreased with post irradiation time and at 18 h was 30-40% less than the frequency obtained immediately after irradiation. The increase in the total translocations as a function of time between irradiation and fusion was due to a rapid increase in complete exchanges (i.e., reciprocal translocations). The frequency of ring chromosomes immediately after irradiation, also increased linearly, however, it was 3-5 times lower than dicentrics and remained almost constant in number for different doses and at different post-irradiation times.

Detection of total- and partial-body irradiation in a monkey model: a comparative study of chromosomal aberration, micronucleus and premature chromosome condensation assays

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy of three cytogenetic methods (dicentrics, micronuclei (MN) and premature chromosome condensation (PCC) analysis) for assessment of the unirradiated fraction and the persistence of damage after total-body (TB) and partial-body (PB) irradiation of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals were exposed to X-rays (5 Gy), either TB or PB, with about 6% of marrow cells shielded. Blood samples were collected at different times after exposure, i.e. 1, 3 and 7 days, and cultures were set up for the different cytogenetic endpoints. In addition, blood count analysis was performed before and after irradiation.

RESULTS

Blood count analysis was not suitable for discriminating between TB and PB exposure. By using Poisson or overdispersion distribution as the basis, it was not possible to distinguish TB from PB irradiation when dicentric chromosomes and MN were analysed. PCC analysis, in contrast, showed a Poisson distribution after TB exposure and overdispersion after PB exposure. Using the PCC assay, reliable dose estimates could be obtained up to 7 days after irradiation.

CONCLUSIONS

For dicentrics and MN, shielding of 6% of bone marrow cells was found to be too small to estimate the unirradiated fraction accurately. The PCC technique was useful for dose assessment and the inhomogeneous exposure of 6% was detected within a short period of time after exposure.

Use of metabolically competent human hepatoma cells for the detection of mutagens and antimutagens

The human hepatoma line (Hep G2) has retained the activities of various phase I and phase II enzymes which play a crucial role in the activation/detoxification of genotoxic procarcinogens and reflect the metabolism of such compounds in vivo better than experimental models with metabolically incompetent cells and exogenous activation mixtures. In the last years, methodologies have been developed which enable the detection of genotoxic effects in Hep G2 cells. Appropriate endpoints are the induction of 6-TGr mutants, of micronuclei and of comets (single cell gel electrophoresis assay). It has been demonstrated that various classes of environmental carcinogens such as nitrosamines, aflatoxins, aromatic and heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be detected in genotoxicity assays with Hep G2 cells. Furthermore, it has been shown that these assays can distinguish between structurally related carcinogens and non-carcinogens, and positive results have been obtained with rodent carcinogens (such as safrole and hexamethylphosphoramide) which give false negative results in conventional in vitro assays with rat liver homogenates. Hep G2 cells have also been used in antimutagenicity studies and can identify mechanisms not detected in conventional in vitro systems such as induction of detoxifying enzymes, inactivation of endogenously formed DNA-reactive metabolites and intracellular inhibition of activating enzymes.

137Cesium-induced chromosome aberrations analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization: eight years follow up of the Goiânia radiation accident victims

The radiation accident in focus here occurred in a section of Goiânia (Brazil) where more than a hundred individuals were contaminated with 137Cesium on September 1987. In order to estimate the absorbed radiation doses, initial frequencies of dicentrics and rings were determined in 129 victims [A.T. Ramalho, PhD Thesis, Subsidios a tecnica de dosimetria citogenetica gerados a partir da analise de resultados obtidos com o acidente radiologico de Goiânia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1992]. We have followed some of these victims cytogenetically over the years seeking for parameters that could be used as basis for retrospective radiation dosimetry. Our data on translocation frequencies obtained by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) could be directly compared to the baseline frequencies of dicentrics available for those same victims. Our results provided valuable information on how precise these estimates are. The frequencies of translocations observed years after the radiation exposure were two to three times lower than the initial dicentrics frequencies, the differences being larger at higher doses (>1 Gy). The accuracy of such dose estimates might be increased by scoring sufficient amount of cells. However, factors such as the persistence of translocation carrying lymphocytes, translocation levels not proportional to chromosome size, and inter-individual variation reduce the precision of these estimates.

Impaired DNA repair capacity in skin fibroblasts from various hereditary cancer-prone syndromes

Host-cell reactivation (HCR) of UV-C-irradiated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been determined in skin fibroblasts from the following hereditary cancer-prone syndromes: aniridia (AN), dysplastic nevus syndrome (DNS), Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL), Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) and a family with high incidence of breast and ovarian cancer. Cells from AN, DNS or VHL patients were found to exhibit heterogeneity in HCR. Cells from individuals belonging to an LFS family show reduced HCR in all cases where the cells were derived from persons carrying one mutated p53 allele, whereas cells derived from members with two wild-type alleles show normal HCR. LFS cells with reduced HCR also reveal reduced genome overall repair, and a slower gene-specific repair of the active adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene, but little if any repair of the inactive 754 gene. In the breast/ovarian cancer family, reduced HCR is observed in skin fibroblasts derived from both afflicted and unaffected individuals. In addition, these cells display lower survival after exposure to UV-C and exhibit higher levels of SCEs than those in normal cells. These observations indicate that various hereditary cancer-prone syndromes, carrying mutations in different tumor-suppressor genes, exhibit an unexplained impairment of the capacity to repair UV-damaged DNA.

Induction of chromosomal aberrations (unstable and stable) by inhibitors of topoisomerase II, m-AMSA and VP16, using conventional Giemsa staining and chromosome painting techniques

Frequencies of symmetrical and asymmetrical exchange aberrations induced by two inhibitors of topoisomerase II, namely, 4'-(9-acridinylamino) methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) and etoposide (VP16), were estimated in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The aberrations were scored using conventional Giemsa staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques, using chromosome-specific DNA libraries. Stable aberrations (translocations) were detected using two cocktails of DNA libraries specific for three chromosomes, namely 1, 3 and X and 2, 4 and 8, representing approximately 40% of the whole human genome. The frequencies of dicentrics and translocations increased in a dose-dependent manner, however, m-AMSA was found to be a more potent inducer of chromosomal aberrations in comparison with VP16 (at concentrations at which comparable frequencies of aberrations were induced) by 20- to 30-fold. When corrected for DNA content of chromosomes in each cocktail, a higher frequency of translocations with the cocktail consisting of chromosomes 2, 4 and 8 in comparison with 1, 3 and X was evident. The genomic translocation frequency calculated from chromosome painting analysis for m-AMSA exceeded that estimated for dicentrics by approximately 2-fold. However, for VP16 almost equal frequencies of both types of chromosome exchange were found.

Sequential G-banding FISH on human sperm chromosomes

A method that allows the performance of double-colour chromosome painting (FISH) on previously G-banded human sperm metaphases has been developed. Sperm chromosomes were obtained by using the fusion technique between zona-free hamster oocytes and human spermatozoa. Single- and double-colour chromosome painting was performed using DNA libraries specific for chromosomes X, Y and 21 on either unstained or G-banded preparations. The hybridization efficiency was very high (98%). The sequential staining technique is very useful for analyses of structural (stable) and numerical chromosome aberrations in human sperm and thus can increase the efficiency of the human sperm-hamster oocytes fusion system to assess the risk to human germ cells as a result of endogenous and exogenous factors.

Low level of DNA repair in human chromosome 1 heterochromatin

Band 1q12 is a breakage prone region commonly involved in chromosome 1 rearrangements found in human cancer. We have investigated whether a lack of DNA repair can account for the observed 1q12 fragility. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-induced repair sites originating in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle were converted to chromosome breaks by blocking the re-synthesis step of excision repair with cytosine arabinoside. Thus, unfilled repair gaps reached S-phase and were detected as chromosome breaks after cell division. Chromosome breakage in the overall genome was monitored by scoring of micronuclei. Breaks in 1q12 were detected in interphase lymphocytes by in situ hybridization with tandem probes targeting the chromosome 1 centromere (D1Z5) and the adjacent heterochromatic band 1q12(pUC1.77). Mitomycin-C (0.12 and 0.24 micrograms/ml) and X-rays (1 and 2 Gy) were used as positive controls to check the suitability of the tandem labelling approach in detecting 1q12 clastogenicity. Our data indicated that, although the methodology was suitable to detect 1q12 breakage and a high level of overall genome DNA repair occurred, there was a low level of EMS-induced DNA repair sites in 1q12 converted to chromosome breaks. This finding was consistent throughout G1 phase, suggesting that there is a relatively low level of DNA excision repair in human chromosome 1 heterochromatin.

Inhibition of the genotoxic effects of heterocyclic amines in human derived hepatoma cells by dietary bioantimutagens

The effects of dietary bioantimutagens (compounds which have been shown to inhibit mutagenesis via interaction with DNA repair processes) on spontaneous and heterocyclic amine (HCA)-induced micronucleus (MN) frequencies were studied in metabolically competent human hepatoma (Hep-G2) cells. All the compounds tested (coumarin, vanillin, caffeine, tannic acid and cinnamaldehyde) caused a moderate increase of MN numbers in Hep-G2 cells at high concentrations (500 microg/ml); only tannic acid was also active at lower dose levels. In combination experiments with the HCA 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-[3,4-f]quinoline (IQ), post-treatment of the cells with bioantimutagens resulted in a pronounced (75-90%) decrease in MN. The most drastic effects were seen with vanillin, coumarin and caffeine which were active at concentrations < or = 5 microg/ml. Further experiments indicated that these compounds also attenuate the mutagenic effects of other HCAs (PhIP, MeIQ, MeIQx, Trp-P-1).

Amplification of the DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase associated with resistance to alkylating drugs in a mammalian cell line

The cytotoxic action of such alkylating chemotherapeutic drugs as 2-chloroethyl-N-nitrosourea (CNU) derivatives is countered by the repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), which removes O6-alkylguanine induced in the DNA by these agents. Resistance to these drugs is often correlated with the MGMT levels in normal and tumor cells of human and rodent origin. Exposure of mouse 3T3 cells to increasing concentrations of CNU, and subsequent selection of resistant cells, led to the isolation of clones with 5-10 times higher levels of MGMT activity than in the control. The increased MGMT expression at both mRNA and protein levels resulted from 5- to 10-fold amplification of the Mgmt gene. Amplification of this gene was not associated with concomitant amplification of another alkylation damage repair gene, N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase. No amplification of at least three other genes on chromosome 7 (which contains the Mgmt gene) was observed in the drug-resistant cells. Furthermore, the amplified Mgmt sequence was not associated with a homogeneously staining region, or double minute chromosomes, nor present as episomal DNA. In situ hybridization of metaphase chromosomes of the drug-resistant cells indicated both translocation and localized amplification of the Mgmt gene.

X-ray-sensitivity of lymphocytes of aplastic- and Diamond-Blackfan-anemia patients as detected by conventional cytogenetic and chromosome painting techniques

Frequencies of spontaneously occurring and X-ray induced, stable and unstable types of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes from two groups of radiosensitive patients, i.e., aplastic anemia (AA) and Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), were determined. Two types of staining methods, i.e., chromosome painting with two cocktails of chromosome-specific DNA libraries (Nos. 1, 3, X and Nos. 2, 4 and 8), as well as conventional Giemsa staining, were employed. Chromosome painting was done with single and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The frequencies of spontaneously occurring chromosome aberrations in AA and DBA patients were not significantly different from healthy individuals. Hypersensitivity to X-rays was seen both in G0 as well as in G2 phase of the cell cycle in lymphocytes from AA and DBA patients, confirming our earlier findings using micronucleus (DBA) and G2 radiosensitivity (AA) assays.

Mechanisms of induction of chromosomal aberrations and their detection by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique using chromosome specific probes has revolutionized the field of radiation cytogenetics in the last few years. Some of the new insights on the origins of radiation induced chromosome aberrations in human, mouse and Chinese hamster, using FISH are reviewed in this paper.

Biological effect monitoring in industrial workers from the Czech Republic exposed to low levels of butadiene

Blood samples were collected twice (in 1993 and 1994) from 19 workers exposed to 1,3-butadiene and 19 matched controls. Three exposed and three control subjects were the same in 1993 and 1994. Personal passive dosimetry was performed in 1993 and twice in 1994 on the day preceding blood sampling. Mean exposure level in 1994 was 1.76 +/- 4.20 ppm (S.D.) and individual exposure levels ranged between 0.012 ppm (detection limit) and 19.77 ppm. Using the clonal assay, geometric mean of hprt mutant frequencies adjusted for cloning efficiency, age and smoking were, respectively, 7.85 (+/- 7.09) x 10(-6) and 10.14 (+/- 9.16) x 10(-6) in pooled (1993 plus 1994) exposed and control subjects. The difference was not statistically significant indicating that 1,3-butadiene did not induce a detectable increase in mutations at the hprt locus. A similar result was obtained for the 1994 subjects alone. There was no difference between adjusted geometric mean mutant frequencies of exposed and unexposed non-smokers or between exposed and unexposed smokers. Analysis of chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes from 1994 subjects indicated that the percentage of aberrant cells was significantly enhanced in exposed subjects. In 1993 (data not shown), it was impossible to demonstrate a significant increase of aberrant cells in subjects exposed to 1,3-butadiene. Frequencies of micronuclei in cytochalasin-B blocked binucleate lymphocytes in exposed and unexposed 1994 subjects were not significantly different. This was also the case for earlier samples analyzed in the same plant. Using the comet assay for 1994 subjects, no statistically significant difference was found between the whole group of exposed and unexposed subjects. This was true for both the comet tail length and the percentage of DNA in the tail. In exposed smokers, however, the comet tail length was significantly longer than in unexposed smokers. Unexpectedly, in unexposed smokers the tail length was significantly shorter than in unexposed non-smokers. It was also unexpected that the percentage of DNA in the comet tail was significantly lower in exposed non-smokers than in unexposed non-smokers.

Chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes from native Andean women and children from northwestern Argentina exposed to arsenic in drinking water

For conducting an adequate human cancer risk assessment of inorganic arsenic (As) in the low-dose region, it is important to establish its mode of action. In this context, the nature of genotoxic effects induced by this agent is of considerable interest. However, the results from such investigations in human have been conflicting. In an attempt to resolve this issue, the clastogenic and aneugenic potential of As was investigated in women and children from native population exposed to high levels (around 0.2 mg/l) of natural As via drinking water in San Antonio de los Corbes in the Andean region of Salta, Northwestern Argentina. The water did not contain elevated levels of heavy metals, such as lead or cadmium, nor was the investigated population exposed to significant industrial pollution or to pesticides. An ethnically similar control group from Rosario de Lerma, Salta, where only extremely low concentration of arsenic in drinking water could be detected, was used as a control. To evaluate the genotoxic effects in peripheral blood lymphocytes, micronuclei (MN) in binucleated cells, sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique (FISH) in combination with chromosome specific DNA libraries were employed. The data obtained clearly indicate a highly significant increase in the frequency of MN and of trisomy in lymphocytes from exposed children and women in comparison with controls, but no notable effects were found on the frequencies of SCEs, specific translocations, or on cell cycle progression. As supported by FISH analysis, at least a proportion of MN appears to originate from whole chromosome loss. An additional finding was the unusually low background levels of MN in unexposed individuals from this ethnic group as compared to other populations, e.g., Caucasians.

Detection of aneugenic and clastogenic potential of X-rays, directly and indirectly acting chemicals in human hepatoma (Hep G2) and peripheral blood lymphocytes, using the micronucleus assay and fluorescent in situ hybridization with a DNA centromeric probe

In human hepatoma (Hep G2) cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) the cytokinesis-blocked micronuclei (MN) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were applied to study aneugenic and clastogenic potentials of X-rays, directly and indirectly acting chemicals. Induction of MN was studied in vitro following treatment with X-rays, directly acting chemicals, such as methylmeth-anesulphonate (MMS), colchicine (COL), vincristine sulphate (VCS) and vinblastine sulphate (VBS), and indirectly acting agents, such as cyclophosphamide (CP), hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA), 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and 4-acetylaminofluorene (4-AAF). Depending on the presence of the fluorescent signal in the MN following FISH with a human DNA centromeric probe, MN in the binucleated Hep G2 cells and lymphocytes were scored as centromere-positive or centromere-negative, representing an aneugenic and clastogenic event respectively. In the controls approximately 50% of spontaneously occurring MN were centromere-positive. Treatment of human hepatoma cells and HPBL (in vitro) with potent aneugens such as COL, VCS and VBS increased the number of MN in a dose-dependent manner; of these 75-93% were centromere-positive. X-irradiation induced MN in a dose-related manner in binucleated Hep G2 cells and HPBL, of which 33-40% were centromere-positive, which demonstrates the significant aneugenic potentials of X-rays. Strong clastogenic activity was observed with MMS and frequency of centromere-positive MN was low: approximately 20 and 30% for HPBL and Hep G2 cells respectively. In Hep G2 cells significant aneugenic activity was found with indirectly acting promutagens/procarcinogens such as HMPA and 2-AAF, in contrast to CP, which came out as a potent clastogen. The non-carcinogen 4-AAF was not able to induce an increase in the frequency of MN in Hep G2 cells. All indirectly acting chemicals tested came out negative when HPBL were used as targets for DNA damage. The results presented correlate positively with data from in vivo assays and indicate that the Hep G2 cell system is a suitable bioactivation system (in vitro) for evaluating the clastogenic and aneugenic potentials of chemicals which require exogenous metabolic activations in order to exert their mutagenic potential.