Differential enhancement of sister-chromatid exchange frequencies by alpha-naphthoflavone in cultured lymphocytes from smokers and non-smokers.
The sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency was assessed in peripheral lymphocytes from 4 smokers and 8 non-smokers in the absence or presence of alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) in the culture media. ANF produced a concentration-dependent increase in the frequency of SCEs in smoking individuals. At an ANF concentration of 11 micrograms/ml, average SCE levels were 54% and 13% above the baseline levels in smokers and non-smokers, respectively. The ANF-enhanced increase in the SCE frequency ranged from 3.12 to 5.72 among smokers, and from 0 to 1.96 among the non-smokers. No significant difference in the mean SCE baseline levels between smokers and non-smokers was detected. The mechanism responsible for the enhanced frequency of SCEs in smokers following in vitro exposure to ANF is not clear, but may reflect changes in metabolic activation/deactivation or increased sensitivity to genetic effects of ANF.
D000328:Adult; D001571:Benzoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D012907:Smoking
D001571:Benzoflavones; D005419:Flavonoids; C011512:alpha-naphthoflavone