title: Genomic instability in a healthy elderly population: a pilot study of possible cytogenetic markers related to ageing.
abstract: Accumulation of DNA damage may play a significant role in the aetiology of the ageing process. Although genomic lesions increase the risk of cancer, many elderly individuals do not suffer from neoplasia in spite of their late age. We aimed to evaluate the rate of genome integrity impairment among elderly subjects without recorded chronic or inflammatory diseases and malignancies. Thirty-one generally healthy elderly subjects (age 69.3 +/- 3.7 years) were studied. Subjects matched control subjects by gender and lifestyle factors. Frequencies of structural chromosome aberrations and translocations applying fluorescence in situ hybridization chromosome painting probes, levels of primary DNA damage and oxidative lesions cleaved by hOGG1 enzyme using alkaline and hOGG1-modified comet assay were recorded in peripheral blood leukocytes. Also, susceptibility of the genome to H(2)O(2)-induced damage as a marker of antioxidative status was evaluated. Translocation yields and rates of chromatid breaks and acentric fragments were significantly higher among elderly subjects. Furthermore, a significant increase in the level of primary genome lesions and hOGG1-sensitive sites in DNA was detected, while the results of the comet assay following H(2)O(2) pre-treatment suggested decreased levels of antioxidant protection in leukocytes. The results obtained may indicate that accumulation of genome damage observed in leukocytes of elderly subjects as surrogate cells is intertwined with the ageing process. Taking this into consideration with the medical records of the study subjects, the results support other authors' findings that the accumulation of basal genome damage might not inevitably trigger the mechanism that enforces induced development of neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Division for Mutagenesis, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mladinic
authors.forename: Nevenka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kopjar
authors.forename: Mirta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milic
authors.forename: Andrea Buljevic
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Dasovic
authors.forename: Miljenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huzak
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeljezic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics; D020552:Comet Assay; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D045647:DNA Glycosylases / Q000378:metabolism; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008019:Life Style; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D045647:DNA Glycosylases; C479058:oxoguanine glycosylase 1, human