Evaluation of DNA damage in exfoliated tear duct epithelial cells from individuals exposed to air pollution assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis assay.
The search for relevant target cells for human monitoring purposes has increased during the last few years. Cells such as sperm, buccal or nasal and gastric epithelium are being used. In this study, we report the use of exfoliated tear duct epithelial cells as a potential material for human biomonitoring studies, since these cells are a target for environmental pollutants. We employed the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay to evaluate for differences in the basal level of DNA damage between young adults from the south (exposed mainly to high levels of ozone) and from the north (exposed principally to hydrocarbons) regions of Mexico City. We found an increase in DNA migration in tear duct epithelial cells from individuals who live in the southern part of the city compared to those living in the northern part. Moreover, young people who live in the southwest part of the city with the highest values of ozone presented the highest values of DNA damage. These results show the feasibility of using exfoliated tear duct epithelial cells in human biomonitoring studies.
Rojas
E
E
Departamento de Genética y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico. emilior@servidor.unam.mx
Valverde
M
M
Lopez
M C
MC
Naufal
I
I
Sanchez
I
I
Bizarro
P
P
Lopez
I
I
Fortoul
T I
TI
Ostrosky-Wegman
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004247:DNA