title: The influence of smoking and diet on the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) mutant frequency in circulating T lymphocytes from a normal human population.
abstract: The influence of the dietary antioxidants vitamin C, alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, phytofluene, beta-cryptoxanthin, retinol and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol on the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) mutant frequency in human peripheral T lymphocytes was investigated. Twenty-five male non-smokers and 27 male smokers in the age range 50-59 years were recruited. Smokers showed a significantly higher mutant frequency compared with non-smokers (X1.5, P < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant positive relationship between hprt mutant frequency and the number of cigarettes that individuals reported smoking daily (P < 0.01). Smokers showed significantly lower levels of plasma vitamin C and the carotenoid alpha-carotene than non-smokers (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). Both hprt mutant frequency and lymphocyte plating efficiency were weakly inversely associated with plasma vitamin C levels (P < 0.07 and P < 0.06 respectively) suggesting that vitamin C may be protective against mutation at the hprt locus. This relationship was markedly stronger in smokers (P < 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Duthie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid