In vitro and in vivo cytogenetic effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges alone or in combination with mitomycin C.
BACKGROUND
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein which has a main property, erythropoiesis, but its range of action in the human body is very wide. It has been suggested that EPO acts cytoprotectively for many cell lines against many toxic causes in vitro and in vivo. Our aim was to study the action of EPO on DNA of two cell types, human lymphocytes in vitro and on P388 ascites tumor cells inoculated in BDF1 mice in the presence and absence of the genotoxic agent mitomycin C (MMC).


METHODS
The sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay was used as it is a very sensitive, simple and rapid method for detecting DNA damage. Proliferation rate indices (PRI) and mitotic indices (MI) were also counted.


RESULTS
EPO did not alter the SCE level when it acted alone on both cell lines. MMC as a potent genotoxic agent increased SCE levels in vitro and in vivo. EPO used in combination with MMC significantly decreased SCE levels and increased PRI and MI values induced by MMC alone both in vitro and in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
EPO acts protectively against the genotoxic potential of MMC, and this action may have clinical implications.
Digkas
E N
EN
Department of Genetics, Demokrition University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Chrisafi
S
S
Passadaki
T
T
Tsalkidis
A
A
Hatzimichail
A
A
Vargemezis
V
V
Lialiaris
T S
TS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000379:methods; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007941:Leukemia P388 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D004338:Drug Combinations; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D016685:Mitomycin