title: Modulation of DNA repair capacity and mRNA expression levels of XRCC1, hOGG1 and XPC genes in styrene-exposed workers.
abstract: Decreased levels of single-strand breaks in DNA (SSBs), reflecting DNA damage, have previously been observed with increased styrene exposure in contrast to a dose-dependent increase in the base-excision repair capacity. To clarify further the above aspects, we have investigated the associations between SSBs, micronuclei, DNA repair capacity and mRNA expression in XRCC1, hOGG1 and XPC genes on 71 styrene-exposed and 51 control individuals. Styrene concentrations at workplace and in blood characterized occupational exposure. The workers were divided into low (below 50 mg/m³) and high (above 50 mg/m³)) styrene exposure groups. DNA damage and DNA repair capacity were analyzed in peripheral blood lymphocytes by Comet assay. The mRNA expression levels were determined by qPCR. A significant negative correlation was observed between SSBs and styrene concentration at workplace (R=-0.38, p=0.001); SSBs were also significantly higher in men (p=0.001). The capacity to repair irradiation-induced DNA damage was the highest in the low exposure group (1.34±1.00 SSB/10⁹ Da), followed by high exposure group (0.72±0.81 SSB/10⁹ Da) and controls (0.65±0.82 SSB/10⁹ Da). The mRNA expression levels of XRCC1, hOGG1 and XPC negatively correlated with styrene concentrations in blood and at workplace (p<0.001) and positively with SSBs (p<0.001). Micronuclei were not affected by styrene exposure, but were higher in older persons and in women (p<0.001). In this study, we did not confirm previous findings on an increased DNA repair response to styrene-induced genotoxicity. However, negative correlations of SSBs and mRNA expression levels of XRCC1, hOGG1 and XPC with styrene exposure warrant further highly-targeted study.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanova
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stetina
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vodickova
authors.forename: Radka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaclavikova
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hlavac
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Smerhovsky
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naccarati
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Polakova
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soucek
authors.forename: Miroslava
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuricova
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manini
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hemminki
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vodicka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020552:Comet Assay; D053904:DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded / Q000187:drug effects; D045647:DNA Glycosylases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020058:Styrene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D000076105:X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000076105:X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1; C000619371:XRCC1 protein, human; C086984:XPC protein, human; D020058:Styrene; D045647:DNA Glycosylases; C479058:oxoguanine glycosylase 1, human