title: Correlation of chromosome damage and promoter methylation status of the DNA repair genes MGMT and hMLH1 in Chinese vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)-exposed workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the association of the methylation status of MGMT and hMLH1 with chromosome damage induced by vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Methylation of MGMT and hMLH1 was measured in 101 VCM-exposed workers by methylation-specific PCR. Chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. The subjects were divided into chromosome damaged and non-damaged groups based on the normal reference value of micronuclei frequencies determined for two control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MGMT promoter methylation was detectable in 5 out of 49 chromosome damaged subjects, but not in the chromosome non-damaged subjects; there was a significant difference in MGMT methylation between the two groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We detected aberrant promoter methylation of MGMT in a small number of chromosome damaged VCM-exposed workers, but not in the chromosome non-damaged subjects. This preliminary observation warrants further investigation in a larger study.
authors: Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University and Key Laboratory of Public Health and Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, China.
authors: Fen
authors: F
authors: Wu
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Yu-Lan
authors: YL
authors: Qiu
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Shou-Min
authors: SM
authors: Zhu
authors: Pin
authors: P
authors: Sun
authors: Wen-Bin
authors: WB
authors: Miao
authors: Yong-Liang
authors: YL
authors: Li
authors: Paul W
authors: PW
authors: Brandt-Rauf
authors: Zhao-Lin
authors: ZL
authors: Xia
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D004249:DNA Damage; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004260:DNA Repair; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014752:Vinyl Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D004247:DNA; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; C515491:MGMT protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes; D014752:Vinyl Chloride