title: Chromosome aberrations in Raynaud's phenomenon.
abstract: We evaluated the occurrence of spontaneous chromosome damage in cultured peripheral lymphocytes of subjects with idiopathic and pre-scleroderma Raynaud's phenomenon, by means of molecular cytogenetic analysis. Using the micronucleus assay as a marker of chromosome alteration, we studied 30 patients with pre-scleroderma Raynaud's phenomenon, 30 patients with idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon and 30 healthy subjects. All subjects were classified as ANA-, ACA+ or Scl 70+. To identify the mechanism of micronucleus formation, fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis was also performed. Pre-scleroderma Raynaud's phenomenon subjects showed significantly higher micronucleus frequencies than idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon subjects and controls (37.0 +/- 11.5 vs. 11.1 +/- 3.2 and 10.7 +/- 2.7 respectively p < 0.0001). Interestingly, subjects with idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon displayed micronucleus frequency comparable to that of healthy controls. Furthermore, ACA+ subjects showed the highest micronucleus frequencies (41.0 +/- 7.6) as compared to subjects with Scl 70+ antibody (25.0 +/- 3.5). Our results show that circulating lymphocytes of only pre-scleroderma Raynaud's phenomenon subjects undergo chromosomal damage, as detected by the micronucleus assay, at a higher rate than expected. No prevalence of aneuploidogenic or clastogenic events in micronucleus formation is revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Reumatologia Ospedale Misericordia e Dolce di Prato, Italy g.porciello@katamail.com
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porciello
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scarpato
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Storino
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.forename: Clodoveo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cagetti
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morozzi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellisai
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcolongo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000235:genetics*