title: Suppressed DNA repair capacity of peripheral lymphocytes in pregnant women.
abstract: The ability to repair potentially carcinogenic lesions was measured for peripheral lymphocytes isolated from women in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy and 6 weeks post-partum. Freshly isolated lymphocytes were damaged with 254 nm ultraviolet radiation and allowed to perform repair in their autologous plasma. DNA repair capacity during pregnancy was over 50% lower than that measured 6 weeks post-partum. No significant difference in repair capacity was observed among the three trimesters. Mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis was also measured for cells cultured in their autologous plasma. There was no significant difference in thymidine incorporation between cells collected during pregnancy (1.02 +/- 0.17 cpm/10(6) cells) and cells collected 6 weeks post-partum (1.45 +/- 0.94 cpm/10(6) cells). The results are, however, consistent with alterations in the immune response during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Greenville Memorial Hospital/Clemson University Research Cooperative, Department of Microbiology, SC 29634, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Skoner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigmon
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Larcom
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014316:Tritium; D004247:DNA; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D013936:Thymidine