Use of a centromere-specific DNA probe (p82H) in nonisotopic in situ hybridization for classification of micronuclei

Cytokinesis Blocked Micronuclei Aberration Analysis

Cytokinesis blocked micronuclei (CBMN) assay is a rapid and sensitive analysis of chromosome aberrations and miss assortments during cell division. Genotoxic agent exposure produces DNA damage and chromosome fragments. Fragmented chromosomes without centromere failed to attach kinetochore which segregates a pair of homologous chromosomes to each daughter cells at cytokinesis, hence leading to form micronuclei. Chromosome or fragments of chromosome can also form micronuclei when they are not accurately sorted to daughter cells. Using cytochalasin B, an actin inhibitor, blocks cytokinesis of which completion leads serration appearance formed with two daughter cells while nuclei segregation is undergoing. As a result, one cell having two daughter nuclei, i.e., binucleated cell, is produced. By analyzing these binucleated cells, chromosome aberrations can be estimated as well as popular chromosome aberration analysis. Frequency of micronuclei formation predicts the testing agents' genotoxicity. By combining use with centromere-specific probes or DNA damage signal probes, the nature of genotoxicity of tested agents can be estimated.

Transforming early pharmaceutical assessment of genotoxicity: applying statistical learning to a high throughput, multi end point in vitro micronucleus assay

To provide a comprehensive analysis of small molecule genotoxic potential we have developed and validated an automated, high-content, high throughput, image-based in vitro Micronucleus (IVM) assay. This assay simultaneously assesses micronuclei and multiple additional cellular markers associated with genotoxicity. Acoustic dosing (≤ 2 mg) of compound is followed by a 24-h treatment and a 24-h recovery period. Confocal images are captured [Cell Voyager CV7000 (Yokogawa, Japan)] and analysed using Columbus software (PerkinElmer). As standard the assay detects micronuclei (MN), cytotoxicity and cell-cycle profiles from Hoechst phenotypes. Mode of action information is primarily determined by kinetochore labelling in MN (aneugencity) and γH2AX foci analysis (a marker of DNA damage). Applying computational approaches and implementing machine learning models alongside Bayesian classifiers allows the identification of, with 95% accuracy, the aneugenic, clastogenic and negative compounds within the data set (Matthews correlation coefficient: 0.9), reducing analysis time by 80% whilst concurrently minimising human bias. Combining high throughput screening, multiparametric image analysis and machine learning approaches has provided the opportunity to revolutionise early Genetic Toxicology assessment within AstraZeneca. By multiplexing assay endpoints and minimising data generation and analysis time this assay enables complex genotoxicity safety assessments to be made sooner aiding the development of safer drug candidates.

Miniaturized flow cytometry-based CHO-K1 micronucleus assay discriminates aneugenic and clastogenic modes of action

A well recognized advantage of the in vitro micronucleus assay is its ability to detect both aneugens and clastogens. This laboratory has previously described a flow cytometric approach for scoring in vitro micronuclei (MN)(Avlasevich et al. [2006]: Environ Mol Mutagen 47: 56–66). More recently, based on work with Chinese hamster cells, evidence has accumulated that the multiparametric data acquired by the flow cytometric process is capable of discriminating between aneugenic and clastogenic modes of action (MOA). That is, in the case of CHO-K1 cells, clastogens are observed to induce MN with minimal effects on the incidence of hypodiploid nuclei or the median size of MN (i.e., fluorescence intensity), whereas aneugens are observed to affect all three parameters. To systematically test whether these ‘‘signatures’’ are indeed reliable indicators of genotoxic MOA, CHO-K1 cells were treated with eight prototypical clastogens, eight an eugens, and 15 nongenotoxicants. Exposure was continuous (18–24 hrs) with harvest occurring immediately thereafter. Treatment and all subsequent processing and analysis steps occurred in the same 96-well plate, making this an efficient, miniaturized assay. The resulting flow cytometric MN data correlated well with expected in vitro cytogenetics: sensitivity 5 16/16, specificity 5 14/15. In addition, MOA signatures were identified that classified each of the 16 genotoxicants correctly as clastogenic or aneugenic. Taken together, these data indicate that flow cytometry represents an analytical platform that is capable of rapidly and objectively acquiring MN counts while simultaneously providing information on genotoxic MOA.

Factors Influencing the DNA Content of Radiation-induced Micronuclei

The distribution of the DNA content of radiation-induced micronuclei was analysed in several cell lines (Chinese hamster, Syrian hamster and mouse NIH-3T3 cells) by flow cytometry. Frequency and DNA content of micronuclei were measured simultaneously using fluorescence and forward scatter signals of micronuclei and nuclei in suspension stained with ethidium bromide. Computerized random breakage of chromosomes and random combination of fragments was performed to compare the measured micronucleus distributions in synchronized cells irradiated during G1-phase with calculated distributions. The measured DNA distribution of radiation-induced micronuclei was found to be influenced by several factors: (1) the DNA distribution and the centromeric index of the chromosomes in the various cell lines; (2) the cell cycle phase at time of micronucleus measurement due to DNA synthesis in micronuclei; (3) the presence of chromosome fragments in micronuclei; and (4) the presence of whole chromosomes in micronuclei. These factors were shown to be responsible for the previously found large radiation-induced micronuclei which could not be explained by the classic assumption only that radiation-induced micronuclei are mainly produced by single acentric fragments.

Characterisation of a tandem repetitive sequence cloned from the deer Capreolus capreolus and its chromosomal localisation in two muntjac species

The isolation and characterisation of a highly repetitive DNA sequence from the genome of the Roe deer Capreolus capreolus is reported. This sequence is characterised by tandem repetition and located within centric heterochromatin as demonstrated by non isotopic in situ hybridisation to the karyotypes of the Indian and Chinese muntjacs. Amplification and/or clustering of these sequences during the drastic karyotype evolution of the genus Muntiacus was noted in the large centromere of the X chromosome of the Indian muntjac. Partial sequence analysis revealed a 62% sequence homology with the sat 1A sequences of Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis.

Micronucleus induction and FISH analysis in buccal cells and lymphocytes of nurses administering antineoplastic drugs

A genotoxic effect for antineoplastic drugs, in particular micronucleus induction, has been shown in several studies. The aim of our study was to assess genotoxic effects in nurses administering different mixtures of antineoplastic drugs in an oncology hospital by evaluating the frequency of micronuclei in exfoliated buccal cells and blood lymphocytes by use of the standard micronucleus (MN) test and by identifying, by means of FISH analysis with centromeric probes, the mechanism of micronucleus induction (clastogenic or aneugenic). The study group comprised 23 nurses, 10 of whom worked in the day-care hospital and 13 in the ward. Twenty healthy subjects were selected as controls. Pan-centromeric FISH analysis was performed on lymphocytes from a selected group of nurses (12/23 subjects) characterized by higher MN frequencies as observed by standard Giemsa staining. A significant increase of micronucleus frequency compared with controls was found in exfoliated buccal cells of both groups of nurses: day-care hospital nurses 0.92 versus 0.45 (p=0.034) and ward nurses 0.94 versus 0.45 (p=0.051). An increase, although not statistically significant, of mean MN frequency was also found by the MN standard test on lymphocytes of the day-care hospital nurses (10.9 versus 7.5; p=0.056), while no differences were found in ward nurses (8.15 versus 7.5; p=0.56). We found that the administration of antineoplastic drugs by nurses in ward units induced a higher frequency of FISH MN+ (43% of subjects) than in the day-care hospital (20%). This was associated with the micronucleus size percentage. This finding could be correlated with the different compositions of administered mixtures of antineoplastic drugs: in ward units the mixtures contained drugs, such as vinorelbine, that were absent in the mixtures administered in the day-care hospital. Our results show genetic damage induced by administration of antineoplastic drugs, particularly in exfoliated buccal cells. This result suggests the useful application of this non-invasive sampling to evaluate genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to mixtures of inhalable chemicals at low doses.

The use of the in vitro micronucleus assay to detect and assess the aneugenic activity of chemicals

The successful validation of the in vitro micronucleus assay by the SFTG now provides the opportunity for this highly cost effective assay to be used to screen chemicals for their ability to induce both structural (clastogenic) and numerical (aneugenic) chromosome changes using interphase cells. The use of interphase cells and a relatively simple experimental protocol provides the opportunity to greatly increase the statistical power of cytogenetic studies on chemical interactions. The application of molecular probes capable of detecting kinetochores and centromeres provides the opportunity to classify mechanisms of micronucleus induction into those which are primarily due to chromosome loss or breakage. When a predominant mechanism of micronucleus induction has been shown to be based upon chromosome loss then further investigation can involve the determination of the role of non-disjunction in the induction of aneuploidy. The binucleate cell modification of the in vitro micronucleus assay can be combined with the use of chromosome specific centromere probes to determine the segregation of individual chromosomes into daughter nuclei. The combination of these methods provides us with powerful tools for the investigation of mechanisms of genotoxicity particularly in the low dose regions.

Nodularin-induced genotoxicity following oxidative DNA damage and aneuploidy in HepG2 cells

The problem of toxicity of Nodularia spumigena to animals and people is of increasing concern, as the incidence of such blooms grows. It was shown that nodularin is a liver carcinogen possessing both initiating and tumor-promoting activities. However, the mechanisms by which this toxin damages the DNA and induces liver cancer are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the DNA damaging properties of nodularin. The effect of different doses of nodularin (1-10 microg/ml) on DNA damage was determined in HepG2 cells after 6, 12, 24 and 48 h of the treatment. The modified comet assay in conjunction with Fpg (ROS-induced DNA damage) and FISH-micronucleus assay (clastogenic and/or aneugenic activities of nodularin) were applied. In addition the occurrence of apoptosis was estimated by the morphological analysis of chromatin condensation and the annexin method using flow cytometry. We found that nodularin induces oxidative DNA damage by oxidation of purines and increases the formation of centromere positive micronuclei due to aneugenic activity. In addition to genotoxic properties, nodularin exerts a cytotoxic activity by inducing apoptosis in HepG2 cells. These results suggest a causative role for nodularin in the process leading to the accumulation of genetic alterations which may be implicated in carcinogenesis.

Evaluation of cytogenetic and DNA damage induced by the antibacterial drug, trimethoprim

Trimethoprim, a widely used antimicrobial drug was tested for its effect on the level of nuclear DNA damage in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes in terms of chromosome and DNA alterations. The extent of cytogenetic damage, expressed as chromosome breakage and chromosome loss, was evaluated employing the cytokinesis block micronucleus method (CBMN) in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes coupled with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a digoxigenin-labelled alphoid DNA probe specific for the centromere of all human chromosomes. The DNA breakage level was evaluated by the Comet assay. Cultures were set up by using blood samples from two healthy donors. A range of concentrations of the test agent (from 1 to 100 microg/ml) was used for the micronuclei (MN) frequency and cytogenetic origin of MN. For the Comet assay the range of doses used was from 0.5 to 150 microg/ml. From the results obtained it appears that this antifolic agent has a significant clastogenic potential, as detected by a dose-dependent increase of the incidence of C-MN and significantly greater than control levels at the highest concentrations tested (25,100 microg/ml). In addition, the results obtained in the Comet assay also show that trimethoprim induces a dose-dependent increase in the level of DNA breakage, this increase attaining statistical significance at the highest concentrations tested (25, 100, 150 microg/ml), which would confirm its genotoxicity.

Marine toxin okadaic acid induces aneuploidy in CHO-K1 cells in presence of rat liver postmitochondrial fraction, revealed by cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay coupled to FISH

Okadaic acid (OA), a major polyether toxin involved in diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), is a potent tumor promoter in rodent skin and glandular stomach and a specific inhibitor of the serine/threonine protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A. A previous study, which used the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in CHO-K1 cells, showed that OA induced chromosome damage in the presence of a rat liver metabolic activation system (S9). To support OA biotransformation by S9, the same test system was performed, and DNA damage induced by OA was measured with and without metabolic activation as well as in the presence of heat-inactivated S9 fraction. The results showed that only in the presence of active S9 did OA significantly increased the frequency of micronucleated binucleated (MNBN) cells. After a 4-h treatment a 2- to 5-fold increase of MNBN cells was observed at 30 nM and at 50 nM of OA. However, without S9 or in the presence of heat-inactivated S9, OA did not induce any chromosome damage. We concluded that OA can be metabolically activated in vitro into metabolites that are more genotoxic. The CBMN assay coupled with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a DNA probe for centromere detection was performed to discriminate between clastogenic (chromosome breakage) and aneugenic (chromosome loss) effects. FISH analysis showed that OA metabolites increased in a dose-dependent manner in centromere positive micronuclei (CEN+): 60% of CEN+ at 30 nM and 75% of CEN+ at 50 nM of OA. The uptake of OA into CHO-K1 cells and the biotransformation of the toxin are discussed.

Genotoxic effects of styrene-7,8-oxide in human white blood cells: comet assay in relation to the induction of sister-chromatid exchanges and micronuclei

Styrene is used in the production of plastics, resins and rubber. The highest human exposures to styrene take place by inhalation during the production of fiberglass reinforced plastics. Styrene is metabolized mainly in the liver to styrene-7,8-oxide (SO), its principal in vivo mutagenic metabolite. In this study, human peripheral white blood cells were exposed to several SO concentrations (10-200 microM) in order to evaluate its genotoxic properties by means of comet assay, sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (MN) test, in addition to determine its clastogenic or aneugenic properties by combining MN with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedures. Our results show that SO induces DNA damage, SCE and MN in human leukocytes in vitro at concentrations above 50 microM, and that there is a strong relationship between DNA damage, as measured by the comet assay, and cytogenetic damage induced by SO at the doses employed. SO shows preferentially a clastogenic activity and produces a cytostatic effect at high doses, reflected by the significant decrease of the calculated proliferation indices. A good dose-effect relationship is obtained in the three tests performed at the concentration range assayed.

Non-disjunction and chromosome loss in gamma-irradiated human lymphocytes: a fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using centromere-specific probes

Centromere-specific DNA probes for chromosomes 4, 7 and 18 were used to simultaneously analyze chromosome loss, non-disjunction, breaks within the labeled region, and nucleoplasmic bridges induced by gamma rays in binucleated human lymphocytes. The doses used were 0, 1, 2 and 4 Gy, and approximately 1000 cells were scored per dose. Micronucleus frequency increased in a linear-quadratic fashion. For chromosome loss, significant increases were observed at 2 and 4 Gy, whereas for non-disjunction significant increases were observed at 1 Gy; thus non-disjunction allowed us to detect the effects of radiation at a lower dose than chromosome loss. The use of centromere-specific probes allowed discrimination between the clastogenic and aneugenic effects of ionizing radiation. The analysis of chromosome loss, not taking fragmented signals into account, ensures the detection of an aneugenic effect, which was not possible using pancentromeric probes. The frequency of chromosome breakage within the labeled regions was higher in nuclei than in micronuclei, suggesting an increase in the engulfment of chromosomal material by nuclei as a consequence of the presence of cytochalasin B in the cultures. Chromatin filaments connecting main nuclei, the so-called nucleoplasmic bridges, were observed in irradiated samples, and are a manifestation of rearranged chromosomes producing anaphase bridges.

Low persistence of radiation-induced centromere positive and negative micronuclei in cultured human cells

The micronucleus (MN) assay is widely used both in genetic toxicology and in the biomonitoring of human populations. Lymphocytes, cell lines, and bone marrow and epithelial cells are usually employed as target systems in such studies. However, little effort has been done to assess the persistence of MN in highly proliferative cells. To study the behaviour of MN containing whole chromosomes or acentric fragments, we have performed a time course experiment on the persistence of gamma-ray (3 Gy) induced MN in a human lymphoblastoid cell line. The frequency and content of MN were analyzed 1, 3, 7, 14, and 56 days after irradiation by pancentromeric fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We observed a clear induction of both centromere positive and negative MN at completion of the first mitotic division. The frequency of both types of MN drastically declined to basal levels 7 days after irradiation with an identical kinetics. We therefore conclude that centromere positive and negative MN are highly unstable upon cell division, indicating that the MN assay could not be a good biomarker of DNA damage induced by acute treatments in highly proliferative cells. The implication of our findings in biomonitoring and in genotoxicity studies is discussed.

Micronuclei assay and FISH analysis in human lymphocytes treated with six metal salts

The capability of some metal compounds for inducing micronuclei (MN) in human lymphocytes was studied. In this investigation, Al (III), Cd (II), Hg (II), Sb (V), Te (VI), and Tl (I) salts were considered. The FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) technique with a centromeric probe was coupled with the MN assay in binucleated cells in order to detect both centromere-positive MN (C+ MN) due to malsegregation phenomena and centromere-negative MN (C- MN) due to chromosome breakage. The blood of two young nonsmoking male donors was employed for all experiments. In both donors, all the tested metal compounds, with the exception of Tl(2)SO(4), showed a statistically significant increase of MN compared to controls, at least at one dose. FISH analysis revealed an increase in the fraction of C+ MN for Al, Cd, and Hg compounds, and of C- MN for the Sb salt; however, this was not a statistically significant increase. A different efficiency was observed for the different metal compounds, in particular, KSbO(3) and CH(3)HgCl, which were highly genotoxic, whereas the others showed minimal effects.

Cell cycle dependent aneuploidy induction by X-rays in vitro in human lymphocytes

Although ionising radiation mainly induces DNA strand breaks leading to chromosomal aberrations, there are indications that it also might induce numerical chromosome aberrations (aneuploidy). The existing data, however, do not provide evidence for a mechanism. To assess the relative sensitivity of the G1 vs. G2 cellular targets, whole blood cultures of lymphocytes were irradiated in vitro with different doses of X-rays (0.5, 1 and 2 Gy). The lymphocytes were harvested after cytochalasin-B blockade to allow the selective study of binucleated cells, having undergone only one division in culture. Harvesting was performed at different sampling times (70, 74, and 78 hours). To evaluate the micronuclei, regarding whole chromosomes or acentric fragments, an oligonucleotide probe that recognises the centromeric region of all human chromosomes was used. The relative percentage of centromere-positive micronuclei ranged from 5 up to 18% depending on the cell cycle stage and on the received dose. Cells exposed during the G1 phase exhibited a slightly higher frequency of centromere-positive micronuclei than cells that were in G2 at the time of exposure. G1 exposure induced a centromere-positive micronuclei dose-effect relationship that was not observed after G2 exposure. The observed difference in response of both phases on the centromere-positive micronuclei yields may be due to the involvement of different targets.

A critical evaluation of centromeric labeling to distinguish micronuclei induced by chromosomal loss and breakage in vitro

The in vitro micronucleus assay in conjunction with CREST-staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with centromere-specific DNA probes is being increasingly utilized for the detection of clastogenic and aneuploidy-inducing agents. Although potentially powerful techniques, both methods have unique characteristics that can influence sample processing and the interpretation of results. In this article, the use of the CREST and the FISH modifications of the in vitro micronucleus assay have been used to characterize the origin of the micronuclei induced by cyclophosphamide, 4,4'-methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline), 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide and ionizing radiation in metabolically competent MCL-5 cells or a derived cell line lacking metabolic activation. Using these results and our previous experiences with these techniques, a detailed comparison including the strengths and limitations of each technique as well as potential problems in performing each assay and in analyzing the data is discussed. In spite of their limitations, our results to date indicate that CREST-staining as well as FISH with centromere-specific DNA probes can be used to accurately distinguish micronuclei formed from chromosome loss from those originating from chromosome breakage and that these techniques can be valuable complements to the in vitro micronucleus assay.

The in vitro micronucleus test: a multi-endpoint assay to detect simultaneously mitotic delay, apoptosis, chromosome breakage, chromosome loss and non-disjunction

Genotoxicity testing aims to detect a large range of genetic damage endpoints and evaluate such results in context of cell survival. The cytokinesis block micronucleus test offers the advantage to provide simultaneously information on both cell cycle progression and chromosome/genome mutations. Indeed, 1. frequencies of cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells (and polynucleated) are good estimators of the mitotic rate; 2. frequencies of apoptotic figures in mononucleated and binucleated cells provide a measure for cell death before or after cell division; 3. combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for centromere/telomeres and micronucleus scoring allows discrimination between clastogenic and aneugenic events; 4. detection of FISH signals for chromosome specific sequences in both macronuclei and micronuclei, discriminates between aneuploidy due to chromosome non-disjunction or to chromosome loss. The cytokinesis block in vitro micronucleus test is thus a cytogenetic multi-test providing mechanistic information with a simple, rapid, objective, microscopical analysis.

In vitro micronucleus-centromere assay to detect radiation-damage induced by low doses in human lymphocytes

One of the major drawbacks of the in vitro micronucleus (MN) assay for human lymphocytes is its reduced sensitivity for the detection of damage induced by low radiation doses, due to the high variability among the spontaneous MN frequencies. In this paper we investigated the enhancement of the sensitivity of the MN assay by analysing spontaneous and radiation-induced MN for the presence of centromeres. For this, in situ hybridization (FISH) with the human pancentromeric DNA probe, p82H, was performed. Our results revealed that a high percentage (73%) of the spontaneous MN contain a centromere. These centromere-positive MN indicate the presence of a whole chromosome/chromatid. After in vitro irradiation with low doses (0.1-2 Gy) 60Co gamma-rays mainly centromere-negative MN were induced while only a very small number of additional centromere-positive MN were formed. This demonstrates that radiation-induced MN mainly contain acentric fragments pointing to the clastogenic action of ionizing radiation. Furthermore, our data show that the sensitivity of the MN assay for low dose detection is increased by scoring only centromere-negative MN.

Analysis of micronuclei induced by 1,3-butadiene and its metabolites using fluorescence in situ hybridization

In our previous study, micronuclei (MN) were induced in bone marrow cells of mice following inhalation exposure to 1300 ppm of 1,3-butadiene (BD) for 6 h per day on 5 consecutive days, and in splenocytes of mice and rats treated intraperitoneally with 80 mg/kg 1,2-epoxybutene (EB) and 30 mg/kg 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB), respectively. In the present study, the nature of MN induced by BD, EB and DEB was analyzed by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using mouse minor satellite DNA and rat satellite I DNA as probes. Percentages of MN with centromere signals (MN+) measured following exposures to BD, EB and DEB indicate that these agents are predominantly clastogens. Frequencies of MN+ per 1000 cells suggest that BD, EB and DEB are not only strong clastogens, but also weak aneugens in mice. The weak aneugenic effect of EB and DEB was not observed in rats. Analysis of the number of centromere signals in individual MN, and the size distribution of MN with centromere signals in EB- and DEB-treated animals, and in animals exposed to the positive controls diethylstilbestrol (DES) and mitomycin C (MMC) led to the following conclusions: (1) analysis of MN for the number of centromere signals may be a useful indicator for identifying chemicals with aneugenic properties; (2) there is no correlation between the size of MN and their origin (i.e., chromosome loss/gain or fragment).

A cytogenetic study of radiological workers: effect of age, smoking and radiation burden on the micronucleus frequency

A large scale cytogenetic study of the radiation damage in nuclear power plant workers and medical workers handling X-ray machines (269 individuals) was undertaken using the micronucleus assay for peripheral blood lymphocytes. The micronucleus frequency was found to increase systematically with donor age. After correction for the age-dependence, no correlation of the micronucleus frequency with smoking habits, expressed as cigarette-years and cigarette consumption per day, could be observed. Compared to the group of administrative workers receiving doses below 1 mSv/year, limit recommended by the ICRP for public exposure, the micronucleus frequency was slightly increased in the group of radiation workers, exposed occupationally. However, applying the Mann-Whitney test, the observed differences are not statistically significant. After correction of the dose accumulation pattern for the turn-over of the lymphocyte pool, a weak correlation between the micronucleus frequency and the equivalent dose accumulated over the 10 years preceding the study was obtained. For clear-cut conclusions on the radiation damage of low-dose worker cohorts, an increase in the sensitivity of the assay, e.g., by analysis of the micronuclei for the presence of centromeres is necessary.

Selective capture of acentric fragments by micronuclei provides a rapid method for purifying extrachromosomally amplified DNA

The amplification and overexpression of a number of oncogenes is strongly associated with the progression of a variety of different cancers. We now present a strategy to purify amplified DNA on double minute chromosomes (DMs) to enable analysis of their prevalence and contribution to tumourigenesis. Using cell lines derived from four different tumour types, we have developed a general and rapid method to purify micronuclei that are known to entrap extrachromosomal elements. The isolated DNA is highly enriched in DM sequences and can be used to prepare probes to localize the progenitor single copy chromosomal regions. The capture of DMs by micronuclei appears to be dependent on their lack of a centromere rather than their small size.

Detection of centromeres in vinblastine- and radiation-induced micronuclei of human lymphocytes using FISH with an alpha satellite pancentromeric DNA probe

Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with a human alphoid satellite pancentromeric DNA probe was used to detect centromeres in micronuclei of human lymphocytes induced by gamma irradiation and by Vinblastine sulfate. In a cytokinesis-block micro-nucleus assay a dose-dependent increase of micronuclei was detected for both agents. 72-89% of vinblastine-induced micronuclei, but only 7-48% of radiation-induced micronuclei showed centromere-positive fluorescence signals. Vinblastine treatment frequencies of centromere-negative micronuclei did not increase compared to control values, nor did frequencies of centromere-positive micronuclei in irradiated lymphocytes. Since FISH with an alpha satellite DNA probe allows the direct detection of centromeric DNA sequences the spindle damaging or clastogenic effectiveness of a compound can be easily and reliably examined in a cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in human lymphocytes.

Advantages and limitations of using fluorescence in situ hybridization for the detection of aneuploidy in interphase human cells

Fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific DNA probes is being increasingly utilized for the detection of chromosome aberrations induced in vitro and in vivo by chemical and physical agents. Although potentially a powerful technique, FISH studies for aneuploidy can be heavily influenced by cellular phenomena and hybridization artifacts which make the performance and interpretation of the results difficult. As a consequence, frequently hyperdiploid frequencies are reported in the literature which are substantially higher than one would expect based upon frequencies seen in conventional metaphase analyses. In this article, a number of the potential pitfalls that we have encountered while performing FISH analyses for aneuploidy are discussed and their potential impact on the observed hybridization frequencies is described. After considering these factors, the frequencies of lymphocyte nuclei containing 3 and 4 chromosome copies are compared between metaphase values obtained from published human population studies and interphase values obtained from similar studies using FISH. It is concluded that by using caution in the evaluation of slides, interphase studies using FISH to detect hyperdiploidy and polyploidy can provide estimates of numerical alterations which closely reflect those seen during metaphase analysis using either FISH or conventional approaches. However, due to the inability of interphase analysis to distinguish hyperdiploidy from polyploidy as well as other potential problems, frequencies of aneuploid nuclei obtained using single label FISH should only be considered approximations of absolute frequencies. For additional accuracy, multi-color FISH with two or more different probes should be performed.

Genotoxic effects of the alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes 2-trans-butenal, 2-trans-hexenal and 2-trans, 6-cis-nonadienal

The genotoxic effects of the 2-alkenals crotonaldehyde, 2-trans-hexenal and 2-trans-6-cis-nonadienal were studied by cytogenetic methods, analyzing frequencies of sister-chromatid-exchanges, numerical and structural chromosome aberrations and micronucleus induction in human blood lymphocytes and cells of the permanent Namalva line. Crotonaldehyde and hexenal were tested in concentrations of 5 microM to 250 microM and nonadienal from 5 microM to 70 microM. Significant dose-related increases of sister-chromatid-exchanges and micronuclei were found for all three compounds. Structural chromosomal aberrations were significantly increased only by crotonaldehyde, but not by hexenal and nonadienal. In contrast numerical chromosome aberrations were not induced by crotonaldehyde whereas hexenal and nonadienal were potent inducers of aneuploidy. The micronuclei were classified by using a centromere-specific DNA probe in a fluorescence in situ hybridization assay. Hexenal and nonadienal increased the percentage of centromere-positive micronuclei, nonadienal being considerably more potent than hexenal. From these results it was concluded that crotonaldehyde acts more as a clastogen whereas hexenal and nonadienal preferentially show aneugenic effects.

FISH analysis on spontaneously arising micronuclei in the ICF syndrome

The ICF syndrome is a rare disorder where patients show undercondensation of the heterochromatic blocks of chromosomes 1, 9, and 16 along with variable immunodeficiency. The undercondensation of the heterochromatic block appears to be restricted to a portion of PHA stimulated T cells. Patients with this syndrome also show an increase in micronuclei formation. We have used dual colour FISH to investigate the chromosomal content of these micronuclei in PHA stimulated peripheral blood cultures, an EBV transformed B cell line, and also micronuclei observed in vivo from peripheral blood smears. Chromosome 1 appears to be present in a higher proportion of micronuclei compared to chromosomes 9 and 16 in both a PHA stimulated culture and an EBV transformed cell line. An 18 centromeric probe, not associated with the ICF syndrome, showed no signal in any of the micronuclei observed. The implications from these observations are that the heterochromatic instability in the ICF syndrome is manifested not only in T but also in B cells and that it is present in vivo.

Aneugen-induced micronuclei (MN) in human lymphocytes may be discerned using image analysis techniques when cell-cycle stage is taken into account

We show that for the in vitro cytochalasin-B human lymphocyte micronucleus (MN) test, the quantification of the DNA content of MN and the difference in DNA content between the two macronuclei in the binucleate cells without MN, as measured by image analysis, gives a first estimation of the aneugenic potential of a test compound. Cultures of isolated human lymphocytes were exposed either to gamma-rays as a clastogen or to carbendazim (MBC) as an aneugen. The lymphocytes were stained with Feulgen stain and the MN were analyzed for DNA content with a Magiscan 2A image analyzer. The mean DNA content of MN induced by MBC were statistically higher than gamma-irradiation-induced MN. It was demonstrated that in culture the lymphocytes, as well as the MN, are in different stages of the cell cycle, but this will not affect the discriminating power of the MN DNA content when only G1 cells are considered, or when DNA content of the MN is expressed relative to the total genome. The identification of G1 and G2 cell populations from image analysis data was performed by extrapolation of DNA content data from G1- and G2-sorted lymphocytes with a FacStar plus flow sorter. It was demonstrated that in MBC-treated cells the DNA rearrangement between the macronuclei in binucleates without MN was on the average higher than in gamma-irradiated and untreated cells, which points to aneugenic effects of MBC without the formation of MN. In contrast to DNA content measurements, the area of the MN is not a reliable measure for discriminating clastogens from aneugens.

Induction of micronuclei by stilbene-type and steroidal estrogens in Syrian hamster embryo and ovine seminal vesicle cells in vitro

The induction of micronuclei (MN) is a known effect of the carcinogenic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). We have now tested the time course and dose dependence of MN induction by DES and its analogs 3',3"-DES, indenestrol A (IA), indenestrol B (IB) or by the steroidal estrogen 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and by the clastogenic compound 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (NQO) in two primary mammalian cell culture systems. All compounds induced MN in Syrian hamster embryo and ovine seminal vesicle cells with compound-specific time courses and dose dependences. DES induced a maximum MN frequency 12 h post treatment, whereas with all other estrogens the highest MN frequency was observed 3-6 h after removal of the compound. The maximum MN frequency after NQO treatment occurred at 24 h or later. Of the stilbene estrogens tested, only DES caused an increase of the mitotic index. Further characterization of the MN by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using CREST antikinetochore antibodies revealed that 92-99% of the DES-induced MN but only 0-2% of the NQO-induced MN contained CREST-reactive kinetochores. Since kinetochore-positive MN are indicative of whole chromosomes/chromatids and kinetochore-negative MN of acentric chromosomal fragments, our findings support the view that DES acts as a pure aneuploidogen and NQO as a pure clastogen in the two cell systems. In the case of 3',3"-DES, IA, IB and E2, 41-68% of the induced MN contained CREST-reactive kinetochores. As the time courses of MN induction are not compatible with those of clastogenic agents, it is proposed that these estrogens induce MN containing chromatids/chromosomes with altered kinetochore structures.

Measurement and characterization of micronuclei in exfoliated human cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization with a centromeric probe

The micronucleus (MN) assay in human exfoliated cells has been widely used to detect the genotoxic effects of environmental mutagens, infectious agents and hereditary diseases. Substantial variability characterizes the MN frequencies reported by different research groups. One reason for this may be the restricted resolution power of the Feulgen-Fast-Green staining that is routinely used. Here we describe a new version of the MN assay that employs fluorescent propidium iodide staining along with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a centromeric probe. Buccal and urothelial cells were collected from 5 healthy unexposed female volunteers and 55,000 cells analyzed for MN frequency and abnormal nuclear events. The Feulgen-Fast-Green and the new fluorescent staining produced very similar results. The frequency of MN in buccal cells was 0.145 +/- 0.118% and in urothelial cells 0.083 +/- 0.074%. No correlation was found between the frequencies of MN in the two types of exfoliated cells. FISH with a centromeric probe allowed MN containing whole chromosomes with a centromere to be differentiated from those containing only acentric fragments. The former appear as a result of chromosome lagging in mitosis, while those without a centromere are due to chromosome breakage. In urothelial cells 43% of MN were centromere-negative and in buccal cells -44%. Fluorescent staining provided more accurate scoring of degenerative cells than standard Feulgen-Fast-Green staining. The combined frequency of pycnotic cells, "broken eggs" and cells with fragmented nuclei did not exceed 2%, while that of karyorrhexis and karyolysis together was as high as 21%. Significant interindividual variability was found in the frequency of cells with karyolysis and karyorrhexis. Thus, the new version of micronucleus assay allows for MN to be scored more precisely, the mechanism of MN formation to be determined and abnormal nuclear events to be readily identified in exfoliated human cells. It is therefore ideal for studying genotoxicity in human populations using exfoliated cells from the mouth, bladder and nose.

Centromere analysis of micronuclei induced by 2-aminoanthraquinone in cultured mouse splenocytes using both a gamma-satellite DNA probe and anti-kinetochore antibody

We have tested 2-aminoanthraquinone (2-AAQ) as a potential aneugen in a cytokinesis-blocked mouse splenocyte micronucleus (MN) assay. Binucleated cells (BNC) were evaluated for MN, and the MN were further probed with two indicators of centromere presence: an anti-kinetochore autoantibody and a DNA probe for the mouse gamma-satellite locus. A dose-dependent increase in the frequency of BNC with MN was observed. At the highest 2-AAQ concentration (10 micrograms/ml), the frequency of BNC containing MN was increased greater than 10-fold over background. Both centromere-positive and centromere-negative MN were significantly increased. At least 62% of MN at all 2-AAQ doses were positive for the gamma-satellite DNA probe, while 30-53% were labeled with the antikinetochore antibody. In contrast with the 2-AAQ results, after treatment with the aneugen demecolcine (positive control), greater than 80% of MN labelled positive with both probes. This discordance in the results with the two probes after 2-AAQ exposure suggests that the mode of action of this chemical may be as an aneugen by disruption of the kinetochore proteins, as a clastogen with a preferential cleavage site at or near the gamma-satellite locus, or both. Our results also suggest that the use of either of these probes individually may not be an adequate measure of centromere presence. Nevertheless, positive results for both markers provides strong evidence that 2-AAQ is aneugenic.

Cytogenetic damage induced in human lymphocytes by four vanadium compounds and micronucleus analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization with a centromeric probe

The genotoxicity of four vanadium compounds, sodium metavanadate (NaVO3), ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3), sodium ortovanadate (Na3VO4) and vanadyl sulfate (SVO5), was evaluated in human lymphocyte cultures using structural and numerical chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, sister-chromatid exchanges and satellite chromosome associations as endpoints. These compounds were not found to increase the frequency of structural chromosome aberrations whereas a significant increase in numerical aberrations, micronuclei and satellite associations was found. Since these results could have been related to a possible mechanism of the action of vanadium as a mitotic spindle poison, the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique was applied to the human lymphocyte micronucleus assay, by means of an alphoid centromere-specific DNA probe. The four vanadium salts showed a micronucleus percentage with positive signal (presence of centromere and thus of whole chromosome(s)) that was always higher than 68% at all doses tested. That confirmed the aneuploidogenic potentiality of vanadium.

Elimination of extrachromosomally amplified MYC genes from human tumor cells reduces their tumorigenicity

Oncogene amplification has been observed in a broad spectrum of human tumors and has been associated with a poor prognosis for patients with several different types of malignancies. Importantly, at biopsy, the amplified genes localize to acentric extrachromosomal elements such as double-minute chromosomes (DMs) in the vast majority of cases. We show here that treatment of several human tumor cell lines with low concentrations of hydroxyurea accelerates the loss of their extrachromosomally amplified oncogenes. The decreases in MYC copy number in a human tumor cell line correlated with a dramatic reduction in cloning efficiency in soft agar and tumorigenicity in nude mice. No effect on gene copy number or tumorigenicity was observed for a closely related cell line containing the same number of chromosomally amplified MYC genes. One step involved in the accelerated loss of extrachromosomal elements is shown to involve their preferential entrapment of DMs within micronuclei. The data suggest that agents that accelerate the loss of extrachromosomally amplified genes could provide valuable tools for moderating the growth of a large number of human neoplasms.

Discrimination of aneuploidogens from clastogens by C-banding, DNA and area measurements of micronuclei from mouse bone marrow

Micronuclei (MN) obtained from mouse bone marrow cells, in vivo exposed to 3 typical clastogens (procarbazine, azathioprine, ethyl methanesulfonate) and 3 typical aneuploidogens (vinblastine, tubulazole, colchicine), were examined for C-band, area and DNA content. C-banding allows a clear discrimination between clastogens and aneuploidogens: the clastogens do not exceed 50% C-band-positive MN and the aneuploidogens all 3 produce 65-75% C-band-positive MN. Concerning the DNA content the percentages of MN containing more DNA than an average chromosome (chr) are lower than 12% for the clastogens and 38-60% for the aneuploidogens. As far as the area of the MN is concerned the percentages of MN which have a larger area than chr are lower than 23% for the clastogens and range from 47% to 71% for the aneuploidogens. Additionally 3 other mutagens were studied. Hydroquinone induces 43% C-band-positive MN with DNA content far below the content of chr; considering the area measurements, however, hydroquinone behaves as an aneuploidogen (65% of the MN are larger than chr). Mitomycin C lies between the clastogens and the aneuploidogens for all 3 criteria but 5-azacytidine is comparable to the model aneuploidogens.