[Effects of hydroquinone on DNA and nucleus damage in human embryo lung fibroblasts].
OBJECTIVE
To study DNA and nucleus damage in human embryo lung fibroblast (HLF) exposed to hydroquinone (HQ) and its genotoxicity.


METHODS
HLF were treated with HQ (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 micro mol/L, respectively) for 3 h and DNA damage was detected by comet assay. HLF was also treated with the same concentrations of HQ for 1 h and micronucleus test was performed after they were cultured for 24 h.


RESULTS
Comet assay showed that percentage of cells with tails in each groups treated with varied doses of HQ was 12%, 19%, 42%, 79% and 95%, respectively, with mean tail length of 7.87, 9.35, 11.03, 19.28 and 23.32 micro m, respectively, in an obvious dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Very significant increase in percentage of cells with tails and length of their comet tail were observed in those groups treated with HQ of 20, 40 and 80 micro mol/L (P < 0.01). And, proportion of high and severe DNA damage increased with dose of HQ. HQ could also induce formation of micronucleus and abnormal nucleus in all groups treated by varied doses of HQ, with rates of micronucleus and abnormal nucleus of 2%, 3%, 10%, 9% and 15%, and 6%, 7%, 16%, 27% and 28%, respectively, in a significant dose-dependent manner. There was significant increase in rates of micronuclei and abnormal nuclei in cells treated with HQ at doses of 20, 40 and 80 micro mol/L (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to HQ could cause DNA and nucleus damage inducing genotoxic effects on HLF.
Jiang
Gao-feng
GF
Department of Health Toxicology, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Shenzhen City, Shenzhen 518020, China.
Zhuang
Zhi-xiong
ZX
Liu
Qi-zhan
QZ
He
Yun
Y
Du
Liu-tao
LT
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000633:toxicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests
D006873:Hydroquinones; C031927:hydroquinone