Genotoxic effects of sodium arsenite on human cells.
The effects of sodium arsenite (SA) were studied either alone or in combination with X-rays in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and with short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation in primary human fibroblast culture systems. It was found that SA (i) inhibited the cell cycle progression of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-responsive lymphocytes, (ii) induced chromatid-type aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) as a function of concentration and (iii) potentiated the X-ray- and UV-induced chromosomal damage. Our results suggest that SA interferes with the DNA repair process, presumably by inhibiting the ligase activity. This accounted for an increase in the DNA replication-dependent processes, chromatid aberrations and SCEs and synergistic enhancement of the X-ray- and UV-induced chromosomal damage. This ability of arsenite may be responsible for its comutagenic properties with different types of mutagens and hence its carcinogenicity.
D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D018053:Arsenites; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D012303:Ring Chromosomes; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D018053:Arsenites; D009153:Mutagens; C015001:arsenite; D001151:Arsenic