Telomeric associations in cigarette smokers exposed to low levels of X-rays.
Telomeric association (TA), i.e. fusion of chromosomes by their telomeres, predisposes a cell to genetic instability. Because of this we investigated the effect of X-rays exposure and cigarette smoking on the frequency of TA in peripheral blood lymphocytes of exposed individuals, in order to determine if TA can be a chromosomal marker in populations exposed to these carcinogens and if there is an synergistic effect between both agents. We found that the exposed groups show a greater percentage of TA when compared with the control group (P<0.001). However, although the percentage of metaphases with TA in the group with combined exposure (12.6%) was greater than in the others exposed groups (P<0.05), this value was less than the sum of the two individual effects (15.1%). Our results suggest that probably there is not an additive or synergistic effect between X-rays and smoking, and that TA may be a useful cytogenetic marker for evaluating populations exposed to mutagens.
Paz-y-Miño
C
C
Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Genética Molecular y Citogenética Humana, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, PO Box 17-1-2184, Quito, Ecuador. cpazymino@puceuio.puce.edu.ec
Pérez
J C
JC
Dávalos
V
V
Sánchez
M E
ME
Leone
P E
PE
D000328:Adult; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016615:Telomere / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005819:Genetic Markers