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Oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of coal workers.

Reactive oxygen species are important mediators of both mineral dust-induced (malignant) lung disease and in vitro DNA damage. Therefore, we studied in vivo oxidative DNA damage in coal workers who had been chronically exposed to silica-containing dust. In peripheral blood lymphocytes of 38 retired coal miners (eight with coal workers pneumoconiosis, 30 references) and 24 age-matched, non-dust-exposed controls 7-hydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) was determined by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The ratio of 8-oxodG residues to deoxyguanosine (dG) was related to individual cumulative dust exposure estimates and pneumoconiotic stage as established by chest radiography. The ratio of 8-oxodG to dG(x 10(-5)) in lymphocytes did not differ between miners with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (2.61 +/- 0.44) and miners without coal workers' pneumoconiosis (2.96 +/- 1.86). However, oxidative DNA damage in all miners was higher than in the non-dust-exposed controls (1.67 +/- 1.31). 8-oxodG/dG ratio was not related to individual cumulative coal dust exposure, age or smoking (pack years) when evaluated by multiple linear regression. We suggest that oxidative damage to the DNA of peripheral blood lymphocytes may be introduced by increased oxidative stress responses in subjects chronically exposed to mineral dusts. Whether this is an important pathway in the suggested carcinogenicity of silica is still an open question.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Detection of oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Oxidative damage to DNA may play an important role in both normal ageing and in neurodegenerative diseases. The deleterious consequences of excessive oxidations and the pathophysiological role of reactive oxygen species have been intensively studied in Alzheimer's disease. Although the role of oxidative stress in the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease is still not clear, the detection of an increased damage status in the cells of patients could have important therapeutic implications. The levels of oxidative damage in peripheral lymphocytes of 24 Alzheimer's disease patients and of 21 age-matched controls were determined by comet assay applied to freshly isolated blood samples with oxidative lesion-specific DNA repair endonucleases (endonuclease III for oxidized pyrimidines, formamidopyrimidine glycosylase for oxidized purines). It was demonstrated that Alzheimer's disease is associated with elevated levels of oxidized pyrimidines and purines (p<0.0001) as compared with age-matched control subjects. It was also demonstrated that the comet assay is useful as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage when used with oxidative lesion-specific enzymes.

Aged↗

Effect of copper deficiency on oxidative DNA damage in Jurkat T-lymphocytes.

The micronutrient copper is a catalytic cofactor for copper, zinc superoxide dismutase and ceruloplasmin, which are two important antioxidant enzymes. As such, a lack of copper may promote oxidative stress and damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of copper deficiency on oxidative damage to DNA in Jurkat T-lymphocytes. To induce copper deficiency, cells were incubated for 48 h with 5-20 microM 2,3,2-tetraamine (2,3,2-tet), a high affinity copper chelator. Such treatment did not affect cell proliferation/viability, as assessed by measuring mitochondrial reduction of WST-1 reagent (4-[3-(4-Iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-ben zen e disulfonate). Furthermore, the induction of copper deficiency did not promote oxidative DNA damage as evaluated by the comet assay. Comet scores were 15 +/- 0 and 16 +/- 1 for control and copper-deficient cells, respectively. However, the copper-deficient cells sustained greater oxidative DNA damage than the control cells (comet scores of 175 +/- 15 and 50 +/- 10, respectively) when both were oxidatively challenged with 50 microM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Supplemental copper but not zinc or iron prevented the potentiation of the H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative DNA damage caused by 2,3,2-tet. These data suggest that copper deficiency compromises the antioxidant defense system of cells, thereby increasing their susceptibility to oxidative DNA damage.

Chelating Agents↗

Role of oxidative DNA damage in the mechanism of fecapentaene-12 genotoxicity.

Fecapentaene-12 (FP-12), a fecal unsaturated, ether-linked lipid excreted by most human individuals in Western populations, has been found to be a potent genotoxin in mammalian cells. Its mechanism of genotoxicity may be mediated by oxygen radical-induced DNA damage or by direct DNA alkylation, of which the relative importance remains to be determined. In the present study, induction of oxidative genetic damage by FP-12 has been investigated, in combination with the biological inactivation of single-stranded bacteriophage phi X-174 DNA. It was shown that formation of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), a marker for oxidative DNA damage, is induced dose dependently by FP-12 in 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG). It was demonstrated by application of radical scavengers that production of both the superoxide anion and singlet oxygen may be involved in the induction of 8-oxodG. The effect of OH radical scavenging appeared to be less pronounced. Enzymatic peroxidation of FP-12, which has been demonstrated to stimulate oxygen radical formation, was found to increase the hydroxylation ratio in dG, an effect which was less pronounced in single-stranded DNA and even absent in double-stranded DNA. No induction of 8-oxodG was observed after exposure of human skin fibroblasts to 60 microM FP-12 for 3 h in vitro. It was concluded that the induction of 8-oxodG by FP-12 is determined by the accessibility of the guanine molecule rather than the rate of oxygen radical formation. Although free radical formation is known to be stimulated by enzymatic peroxidation of FP-12, the inactivation of phi X-174 DNA spontaneously induced by FP-12 was found to be reduced by application of peroxidases. This furthermore demonstrates that the increased formation of reactive oxygen species by enzymatic peroxidation of FP-12 does not directly relate to increased induction of genotoxic effects. The fact that addition of radical scavengers shows limited effects on the inactivation of phi X-174 DNA suggests that the contribution of oxidative DNA damage to the genotoxic potential of FP-12 is only of minor importance.

Animals↗

Oxidative DNA damage: mechanisms, mutation, and disease.

Oxidative DNA damage is an inevitable consequence of cellular metabolism, with a propensity for increased levels following toxic insult. Although more than 20 base lesions have been identified, only a fraction of these have received appreciable study, most notably 8-oxo-2'deoxyguanosine. This lesion has been the focus of intense research interest and been ascribed much importance, largely to the detriment of other lesions. The present work reviews the basis for the biological significance of oxidative DNA damage, drawing attention to the multiplicity of proteins with repair activities along with a number of poorly considered effects of damage. Given the plethora of (often contradictory) reports describing pathological conditions in which levels of oxidative DNA damage have been measured, this review critically addresses the extent to which the in vitro significance of such damage has relevance for the pathogenesis of disease. It is suggested that some shortcomings associated with biomarkers, along with gaps in our knowledge, may be responsible for the failure to produce consistent and definitive results when applied to understanding the role of DNA damage in disease, highlighting the need for further studies.

DNA Adducts↗

Increased oxidative DNA damage, as assessed by urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine concentrations, and serum redox status in persons exposed to mercury.

BACKGROUND: Mercury is a ubiquitous and highly toxic environmental pollutant. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between mercury exposure and oxidative stress, serum and urinary mercury concentrations, oxidative DNA damage, and serum redox status in chronically mercury-exposed persons compared with healthy controls. METHODS: We measured urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which we used as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage in the mercury-exposed persons, by HPLC with electrochemical detection (ECD). We evaluated antioxidant status by measuring the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and the concentrations of total reduced glutathione and protein-bound thiols in serum. RESULTS: The significant increase in 8-OHdG concentrations in urine indicated that mercury-induced oxidative damage to DNA occurred in vivo. Differences in body mercury burden and antioxidant enzyme activities were statistically significant between the mercury-exposed persons and controls. Serum and urinary mercury concentrations in the mercury-exposed persons were more than 40-fold higher than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Mercury exposure can induce oxidative DNA damage, whereas the antioxidative repair systems can be expected to minimize DNA lesions caused by mercury. Measurement of urinary 8-OHdG could be useful for evaluating in vivo oxidative DNA damage in mercury-exposed populations.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Effect of thyroid hormones on mitochondrial oxygen free radical production and DNA oxidative damage in the rat heart.

Mitochondria seem to be involved in oxygen radical damage and aging. However, the possible relationships between oxygen consumption and oxygen radical production by functional mitochondria, and oxidative DNA damage, have not been studied previously. In order to analyze these relationships, male Wistar rats of 12 weeks of age were rendered hyper- and hypothyroid by chronic T(3) and 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil treatments, respectively. Hypothyroidism decreased heart mitochondrial H(2)O(2) production in States 4 (to 51% of controls; P<0.05) and 3 (to 21% of controls; P<0.05). In agreement with this, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) decreased in the heart genomic DNA of hypothyroid animals to 40% of controls (P<0.001). Studies with respiratory inhibitors showed that the decrease in oxygen radical generation observed in hypothyroidism occurred at Complex III (mainly) and at Complex I; that decrease was due to the presence of a lower free radical leak in the respiratory chain (P<0.05). Hyperthyroidism did not significantly change heart mitochondrial H(2)O(2) production since the increase in State 4 oxygen consumption in comparison with control and hypothyroid animals (P<0.05) was compensated by a decrease in the free radical leak in relation to control animals (P<0.05). In agreement with this, heart 8-oxodG was not changed in hyperthyroid animals. The lack of increase in H(2)O(2) production per unit of mitochondrial protein will protect mitochondria themselves against self-inflicted damage during hyperthyroidism.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Oxidative DNA damage and repair in a cell lineage model of human proliferative breast disease (PBD).

Oxidative damage to DNA is thought to play a significant role in mutagenesis, aging, and cancer. Sensitivity to oxidative DNA damage and DNA repair efficiency were examined using a series of human breast epithelial cell lines-MCF-10A, MCF-10AT, and MCF-10ATG3B-with progressively elevated Ras protein. Breast epithelial cells were treated with H2O2, in the absence and presence of the DNA-repair inhibitors hydroxyurea (HU) and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). DNA strand breaks were assessed by the mean olive tail moment (microm) using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. In untreated cells, the mean olive tail moment values were 4.3 +/- 0.7, 8.3 +/- 1.1, and 7.1 +/- 0.6 microm in the MCF-10A, MCF-10AT, and MCF-10ATG3B cells, respectively. Five min H2O2 treatment produced concentration-dependent DNA damage, with the MCF-10A cells most susceptible and the tumorigenic MCF-10ATG3B cells the least susceptible. Treatment with 100 microM H2O2 resulted in approximately 17-, 6-, and 4.5-fold increases in mean olive tail moment values in the MCF-10A, MCF-10AT, and MCF-10ATG3B cells, respectively, compared to untreated cells. The HCC1937 tumor cell line responded in a manner comparable to the MCF-10ATG3B cells treated with H2O2, HU/Ara-C pre-treatment resulted in a approximately 1.5-fold increase in olive tail moment values in all three cell lines. Protein levels of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), and manganese SOD (MnSOD) were determined in order to examine a potential mechanism for increased resistance to H2O2-mediated DNA damage. Levels of these enzymes increased progressively, with highest expression in MCF-10ATG3B cells. Increased cellular resistance also coincided with marked decreases in p53 protein levels. These results demonstrate that, in this cell lineage, sensitivity to oxidative DNA damage by H2O2 decreases with tumorigenicity (i.e., MCF-10A vs. MCF-10ATG3B), and show that DNA repair, altered Ras, and p53 expression, or compensatory mechanisms involving elevated antioxidant enzymes are involved in mediating these effects.

Animals↗

DNA oxidative damage in leukocytes correlates with the severity of HCV-related liver disease: validation in an open population study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxidative DNA damage, identifiable in the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), is relevant in the mutagenesis/carcinogenesis process. The aim of this study was to assess 8-OHdG levels in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in relation to extent of liver damage and HCV genotype. METHODS: 8-OHdG levels were measured in DNA from circulating leukocytes of 110 anti-HCV positive subjects belonging to the population of the Dionysos study, subgrouped in: 50 anti-HCV+ with persistently normal ALT, 48 with chronic hepatitis and 12 with cirrhosis. Twenty normal subjects served as Controls. 8-OHdG levels were assayed by HPLC/electrochemical detector. RESULTS: 8-OHdG levels rose (P < 0.00001) from Controls to HCV+; chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis were associated with a further increase (P < 0.02 versus HCV+). Genotype 1 was associated with higher levels of 8-OHdG (P < 0.04). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, after correction for potential confoundings, 8-OHdG levels correlated (P < 0.02) with presence and extent of liver damage. CONCLUSIONS: An accumulation of 8-OHdG in circulating leukocytes is a reliable marker of the extent of liver damage in HCV+ patients and is present in particular in genotype 1 infection. This genomic damage may contribute to liver carcinogenesis by causing persistent DNA changes.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Ascorbic acid protects against endogenous oxidative DNA damage in human sperm.

Damage to the DNA of germ cells can lead to mutation, which may result in birth defects, genetic diseases, and cancer. The very high endogenous rate of oxidative DNA damage and the importance of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) in preventing this damage has prompted an examination of these factors in human sperm DNA. The oxidized nucleoside 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine; oxo8dG), 1 of approximately 20 major products of oxidative damage to DNA, was measured in DNA isolated from human sperm provided by healthy subjects and compared to the seminal fluid AA levels. This relationship was studied in two groups. In a group of 24 free-living individuals 20-50 years old high levels of oxo8dG were correlated with low seminal plasma AA. The endogenous level of oxo8dG in this group was 13 fmol per microgram of DNA or approximately 25,000 adducts per sperm cell. The second group of individuals was maintained on a controlled diet that varied only in AA content. When dietary AA was decreased from 250 to 5 mg/day, the seminal fluid AA decreased by half and the level of oxo8dG in sperm DNA increased 91%. Repletion of dietary AA for 28 days (from 5 mg/day to 250 or 60 mg/day) caused a doubling in seminal fluid AA and reduced oxo8dG by 36%. These results indicate that dietary AA protects human sperm from endogenous oxidative DNA damage that could affect sperm quality and increase risk of genetic defects, particularly in populations with low AA such as smokers.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Induction of oxidative DNA damage in anaerobes.

We compared oxidative DNA damage in strictly anaerobic Prevotella melaninogenica, aerotolerant anaerobic Bacteroides fragilis, and facultative anaerobic Salmonella typhimurium after exposure to O2 or H2O2. Using HPLC with electrochemical detection, we measured 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) as a damage marker. O2 induced 8OHdG in P. melaninogenica but not in B. fragilis, which shows catalase activity, or in S. typhimurium. In P. melaninogenica, with catalase, O2 induced less 8OHdG; superoxide dismutase had no effect; with glucose and glucose oxidase, O2 induced more 8OHdG. H2O2 also markedly increased 8OHdG. O2 was suggested to induce 8OHdG through H2O2. O2 or H2O2 decreased survival only in P. melaninogenica. Highly sensitive to oxidative stress, P. melaninogenica could prove useful for investigating oxidative DNA damage.

Anaerobiosis↗

Effect of dietary quercetin on oxidative DNA damage in healthy human subjects.

The effect of dietary intake of flavonols (predominantly quercetin) on oxidative DNA damage was studied in thirty-six healthy human subjects (sixteen men, twenty women). The study was a randomised crossover study, comprising two 14 d treatments of either a low-flavonol (LF) or high-flavonol (HF) diet with a 14 d wash-out period between treatments. Subjects were asked to avoid foods containing flavonols, flavones and flavanols during the LF dietary treatment period and to consume one 150 g onion (Allium cepa) cake (containing 89.7 mg quercetin) and one 300 ml cup of black tea (containing 1.4 mg quercetin) daily during the HF dietary treatment. A 7 d food diary was kept during each dietary period and blood samples were taken after each dietary treatment. Products of oxidative damage to DNA bases were measured in DNA from leucocytes. The study had more than 95% power to detect a change of 20% in DNA damage products Plasma vitamin C and plasma quercetin concentrations were also measured. No significant differences in intake of macronutrients or assessed micronutrients, measured DNA base damage products, or plasma vitamin C were found between the HF and LF dietary treatments. The plasma quercetin concentration was significantly higher after the HF dietary treatment period (228.5 (SEM 34.7) nmol/l) than after the LF dietary treatment period (less than the limit of detection, i.e. <66.2 nmol/l). These findings do not support the hypothesis that dietary quercetin intake substantially affects oxidative DNA damage in leucocytes.

Adult↗

Substrate specificity of Fpg protein. Recognition and cleavage of oxidatively damaged DNA.

The 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase of Escherichia coli, also known as formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg protein), has N-glycosylase and AP-lyase activities. This enzyme repairs oxidative DNA damage by efficiently removing formamidopyrimidine lesions and 8-oxoguanine residues from DNA. Defined oligodeoxynucleotides containing various 8-oxopurines were used to examine the substrate specificity of Fpg protein and to establish the role of functional groups in DNA on damage recognition and catalysis. Binding affinities of Fpg protein were established for duplex oligodeoxynucleotides containing 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanine, 8-oxo-2'-deoxyadenine, 8-oxo-2'-deoxynebularine, 8-oxo-2'-deoxyinosine, abasic sites, and a ring-open adduct of C8-aminofluorene guanine. The C8 keto group of 8-oxodG:dC presents in the major groove and is correlated with tight binding (Kd = 8.9 nM). Binding is much weaker when the C8 keto functional group is in the minor groove, as in 8-oxodG:dA (Kd = 340 nM). Km and Vmax were determined for the cleavage reaction. Specificity constants (Kcat/Km) are consistently higher for oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes containing 8-oxopurines with C6 and C8 keto groups, as in 8-oxodG:dC and 8-oxodI:dC, where Kcat/Km are 9.3 and 18 min-1 nM x 10(-3), respectively. 8-oxodN:dC lacks the C6 keto group; the specificity constant is 0.024 min-1 nM x 10(-3). Taken together, our data suggest that the C8 keto group of 8-oxodeoxyguanine and the carbonyl moiety of formamidopyrimidine enable Fpg protein to recognize and bind duplex DNA containing these modified bases. An enzyme-catalyzed reaction involving the C6 keto group of the substrate leads to removal of these lesions. A mechanism involving protonation at O-6 of 8-oxoguanine is proposed to account for the N-glycosylase activity of this enzyme.

Catalysis↗

Transcription factor NF-kappa B is activated by photosensitization generating oxidative DNA damages.

Reactive oxygen intermediates like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been shown to serve as messengers in the induction of NF-kappa B and, then, in the activation and replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in human cells. Because H2O2 can be converted into the highly reactive OH. at various locations inside the cells, we started to investigate the generation of Reactive oxygen intermediates by photosensitization. This technique is based on the use of a photosensitizer which is a molecule absorbing visible light and which can be located at various sites inside the cell depending on its physicochemical properties. In this work, we used proflavine (PF), a cationic molecule having a high affinity for DNA, capable of intercalating between DNA base pairs. Upon visible light irradiation, intercalated PF molecules oxidize guanine residues and generate DNA single-strand breaks. In lymphocytes or monocytes latently infected with HIV-1 (ACH-2 or U1, respectively), this photosensitizing treatment induced a cytotoxicity, an induction of NF-kappa B, and a reactivation of HIV-1 in cells surviving the treatment. NF-kappa B induction by PF-mediated photosensitization was not affected by the presence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine while strong inhibition was recorded when the induction was triggered by H2O2 or by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Another transcription factor like AP-1 is less activated by this photosensitizing treatment. In comparison with other inducing treatments, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or tumor necrosis factor alpha, the activation of NF-kappa B is slow, being optimal 120 min after treatment. These kinetic data were obtained by following, on the same samples, both the appearance of NF-kappa B in the nucleus and the disappearance of I kappa B-alpha in cytoplasmic extracts. These data allow us to postulate that signaling events, initiated by DNA oxidative damages, are transmitted into the cytoplasm where the inactive NF-kappa B factor is resident and allow the translocation of p50/p65 subunits of NF-kappa B to the nucleus leading to HIV-1 gene expression.

Acetylcysteine↗

Differential effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on oxidative DNA damage at the gastroesophageal junction and at the gastric antrum.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the mucosal compartment. This prospective study evaluates DNA oxidative damage in biopsy samples obtained from both the antrum and the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) before and after H. pylori eradication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive H. pylori-positive patients underwent endoscopy with multiple biopsy sampling (i.e., antrum, incisura angularis, fundus, and cardia at the GEJ). After H. pylori eradication, 32 patients underwent a checkup endoscopy (mean interval, 5.7 months); in a subgroup of 13 subjects, a third endoscopy procedure was also performed (mean interval, 18 months). Additional biopsy samples (two from the antrum and two from the GEJ) were used to assess 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) levels using both high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector and ELISA. RESULTS: In the antral compartment, no significant modifications of 8OHdG levels were assessed after H. pylori eradication. Conversely, following eradication, 8OHdG levels significantly increased (high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector, P = 0.04; ELISA method, P = 0.05) in biopsy samples taken from the GEJ, and a further increase was documented in the subgroup of patients who underwent a third endoscopy (P = 0.01). The increasing trend was more relevant in patients in whom H. pylori-cagA-positive strains were eradicated and in those affected by hiatal hernia. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of DNA adducts in the antral mucosa are not modified by H. pylori eradication; conversely, H. pylori eradication significantly increases the oxidative adducts at the GEJ. The clinical and biological importance of this situation and whether and how it relates to a higher risk of precancerous lesions is open to debate.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

Prophylaxis of oxidative DNA damage by formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase.

Lying at the gas-exchange interface, lung epithelia may be at risk of oxidation-induced mutagenesis. Further, inflammation processes possibly consequent on smoking liberate reactive oxygen species that multiply the carcinogenic effects of tobacco. DNA repair mechanisms play a major role in counteracting the deleterious effects of oxidative DNA damage. Some studies find positive associations between lung cancer and variations in the human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) gene that encodes a major DNA glycosylase for oxidized lesions with sluggish kinetics properties. The bacterial homologue formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG) is 80-fold faster than hOGG1 in repairing mutagenic oxidative lesions. Cell-culture studies have shown that FPG can be expressed in mammalian cells, where it accelerates DNA repair and abates mutagenicity of a wide range of DNA-damaging agents. Prophylaxis of oxidative DNA damage and mutation could be achieved in lung epithelia and other tissues of at-risk individuals by expression of the FPG protein. Currently available vehicles for this peculiar type of gene therapy are briefly surveyed.

Adenoviridae↗

Hydroxytyrosol lipophilic analogues: enzymatic synthesis, radical scavenging activity and DNA oxidative damage protection.

The olive oil phenol hydroxytyrosol (3), as well its metabolite homovanillic alcohol (4), were subjected to chemoselective lipase-catalysed acylations, affording with good yield 10 derivatives (5-14) bearing C(2), C(3), C(4), C(10) and C(18) acyl chains at C-1. Hydroxytyrosol (3) and its lipophilic derivatives showed very good DPPH. radical scavenging activity. Compounds 3, 4 and their lipophilic analogues 5-14 were subjected to the atypical Comet test on whole blood cells: 3 and its analogues 5 and 6, with little hydrophobic character (logP<or=1.20), showed a good protective effect against H(2)O(2) induced oxidative DNA damage. The homovanillic alcohol 4 and its analogues 10-14 resulted scarcely effective both as radical scavengers and antioxidant agents.

Acetylation↗

Negative association between serum dioxin level and oxidative DNA damage markers in municipal waste incinerator workers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of dioxin on the formation of oxidative DNA damage and urinary mutagenicity, we measured the concentrations of serum dioxins and lymphocytic 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) in 57 male waste incinerator workers, urinary 8-OH-dG and urinary mutagenicity in 29 male waste incinerator workers. METHODS: Information about the subjects was obtained from a questionnaire. Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF), and coplanar-polychlorinated-biphenyl (Co-PCB) in serum samples from the workers were measured with a high-resolution gas chromatograph /high-resolution mass spectrometer. Lymphocytic and urinary 8-OH-dG levels were measured with a high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector system. The urinary mutagenicity was measured with umu assay. RESULTS: The lymphocytic 8-OH-dG level showed a negative association with the serum dioxin level (total value of TEQ-PCDD, PCDF, and Co-PCB). Urinary 8-OH-dG did not show correlation with serum dioxin level, but showed positive correlation with the smoking index. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to the subjects' serum dioxin level, dioxin did not increase the urinary 8-OH-dG level by oxidative DNA damage, but upregulation of the primary defenses with oxidative damage and/or DNA repair system activity might have occurred.

Adult↗