title: Quinocetone triggers oxidative stress and induces cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human peripheral lymphocytes of both genders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quinocetone has been widely used as an animal growth promoter in China. However, available data showed that QCT has potential genotoxicity. This study was conducted to investigate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of QCT in human lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCK-8 assay demonstrated the severe inhibitory effects by QCT in a dose- and time-dependent manner. DNA damage analysis using alkalic Comet assay revealed a pronounced increase of DNA fragmentation in cells. In contrast, DNA damage was significantly decreased after incubation with S9 mix. This finding demonstrated that the intermediate metabolites of this drug exerted lower genotoxicity than its parent drugs. We further described chromosomal damage induced by this drug employing cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. The micronucleus frequency was significantly increased in quinocetone groups as compared to controls. Similar to the observation in Comet assay, incorporation of S9 mix in the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay could markedly alleviate the chromosomal damage. Moreover, QCT could invoke increase of reactive oxygen species generation in cells. Intriguingly, the toxicity of QCT was more prominent in samples from males than those from females under the same conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QCT could induce potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Andreas K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nussler
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Liegang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002681:China; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D009153:Mutagens; D011810:Quinoxalines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C502851:quinocetone