title: The role of α-satellite DNA and heterochromatin polymorphism in  leukemia patients and illicit drug addicts.
abstract: Heterochromatin  is considered to play a role in protecting the genome against mutagens. Changes  in the quantity and proportion of different types of satellite DNA could  increase genetic susceptibility in individuals with heterochromatic variations;  they cause chromosome instability and predispose patients to malignancies. We  evaluated the heterochromatin associated with chromosomes in 50 leukemia  patients, 93 drug addicts and 93 healthy controls from Tehran, Iran. Barium  hydroxide saline Giemsa staining was used to examine heterochromatin polymorphism  of chromosomes 1, 9 and 16 in lymphocyte cultures. There were significant  differences in this polymorphism in lymphocytes from drug addicts and leukemia  patients compared to healthy controls. These polymorphisms could serve as  markers for the detection and characterization of chromosome damage in  leukemia patients and drug addicts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Movafagh_a@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Movafagh
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mortazavi-Tabatabaei
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kolahi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000737:chemistry*; D055030:Drug Users; D005260:Female; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D004276:DNA, Satellite; D006570:Heterochromatin; D013287:Illicit Drugs