title: [Chromosome aberrations, valued as frequency of spontaneous micronuclei, in subjects with suspected presclerodermic Raynaud's phenomenon].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of spontaneous chromosome damage in cultured peripheral lymphocytes of subjects with suspected presclerodermic Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), by means of molecular cytogenetic analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 20 suspected presclerodermic RP, 20 idiopathic RP and 25 healthy subjects. As marker of chromosome alteration we used the micronucleus assay. All subjects were also classified as ANA-, ACA+ or Scl70+. To identify the mechanism of MN formation, a MN fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis using a pancentromeric DNA probe was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suspected presclerodermic RP subjects, showed significantly higher MN frequencies than idiopathic RP and controls (39+/-15.2 vs 10+/-2.1 and 9.8+/-3.5 respectively p<0.0001). Interestingly, subjects with idiopathic RP displayed MN frequency comparable to that of controls. Furthermore, ACA+ subjects showed the highest MN frequencies (44+/-8.1) as compared to subjects with different antibody pattern (26+/-7.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show the presence of higher levels of chromosomal damage in circulating lymphocytes of suspected presclerodermic RP. They also would suggest a key role of anti-centromere antibody in determining the observed cytogenetic anomalies. FISH analysis indicated that both aneuploidogenic and clastogenic events contribute to the formation of MN observed in suspected presclerodermic RP.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Reumatologia, Università di Siena, Italia. g.porciello@katamail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porciello
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scarpato
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Storino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cagetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellisai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morozzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcolongo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*