title: Changes in high molecular weight DNA fragmentation following human blood exposure to styrene-7,8-oxide.
abstract: Styrene-7,8-oxide (S7,8O) is the major in vivo metabolite of styrene and is a genotoxic agent potentially carcinogenic to humans. It is known to cause DNA strand breaks and adducts. We studied high molecular weight DNA fragmentation in white blood cells following incubation of blood with S7,8O from individuals with no previous exposure to this compound. To better understand the effects of S7,8O, we also examined blood exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) a typical oxidant that is linked to oxidative stress. All individuals in this study showed a variable reduction in high molecular weight DNA fragments determined by laser densitometry compared to untreated controls for both S7,8O and H2O2 treated samples. This decrease was independent of the concentration and length of exposure of blood to S7,8O and H2O2. An increase in low molecular weight DNA fragments from samples treated with S7,8O and H2O2, compared to untreated samples was also noted. Similarities in the reduction of HMW-DNA fragments after S7,8O and H2O2 exposure suggested a similar mechanism of HMW-DNA damage. It was surmised that S7,8O exposure in blood may induce high molecular weight DNA fragmentation due to oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Occupational Medicine, University of Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marczynski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Baur
mesh_terms: D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002469:Cell Separation; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000097:blood; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015342:DNA Probes; D003720:Densitometry; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016877:Oxidants / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D018736:DNA Adducts; D015342:DNA Probes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D016877:Oxidants; C013690:styrene oxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide