title: Genotoxic differences by sex in nasal epithelium and blood leukocytes in subjects residing in a highly polluted area.
abstract: We describe differences by sex in genotoxic damage found in a population of medical students exposed to a highly oxidative atmosphere, compared with a control group, measured by the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay and histological changes in nasal epithelium smears. Cells were obtained from the nasal epithelium and blood leukocytes. Higher DNA damage in nasal cells and leukocytes was found in males compared to females and control subjects. The percentage of squamous metaplastic changes in the nasal epithelium was also higher in males compared with females and controls. The co-mutation of normal nasal epithelium by squamous cells might modify its protective function in the nose, increasing the risk of damage to the lower respiratory tract. Although, as medical students, males and females were exposed to the same environment and activity patterns, male genotoxicity damage was higher in control and exposed subjects. More research should be done in order to identify direct or indirect sexual hormone intervention.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, CP 04510 Mexico City, Mexico. fortoul@servidor.unam.mx
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Fortoul
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Avila-Costa
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Avila-Casado
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mussali-Galante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Villalva
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ostrosky-Shejet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008800:Mexico; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010126:Ozone