title: Detection of DNA damage and repair by alkaline elution using human lymphocytes.
abstract: The repair of DNA alkylation damage in human cells is poorly understood. We have adapted the alkaline elution technique for use with human peripheral blood lymphocytes in culture. We have also established conditions necessary for short-term culture of human lymphocytes. Lymphocyte growth which can be maintained for up to 30 days is dependent upon irradiated TK6 feeder cells and T-cell growth factor (crude TCGF). The amount of damage induced by a given concentration of methyl methane-sulfonate (MMS) is dependent upon cell number per ml of growth medium. The DNA damage measured, in lymphocytes, by alkaline elution is a composite of single strand breaks and alkali-labile lesions. Repair of this damage after appropriate recovery periods is also detectable. The irradiated feeder TK6 cells do not contribute to the number of strand breaks detected or the amount of recovery after treatment. This method offers a quick and reproducible means of detecting DNA damage and repair in human T-lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington 05401.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Munzer
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Hartshorn
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Robison
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004261:DNA Replication; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014021:Tissue Preservation
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate