title: Association between inflammation processes, DNA damage, and exposure to environmental pollutants.
abstract: Environmental exposure to pollutants, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), could lead to carcinogenesis development. However, there is a gap on the mechanisms involved in this effect. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between exposure to environmental air pollution and inflammation process in DNA damage in taxi drivers. This study included 45 taxi drivers and 40 controls; non-smokers composed both groups. Biological monitoring was performed through quantification of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP). ICAM-1 (CD54) expression, NTPDase activity, inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ) levels, and comet and micronucleus assays were evaluated. The results demonstrated that 1-OHP levels, ICAM-1 expression, NTPDase activity, and DNA damage biomarkers (% tail DNA and micronucleus frequency) were increased in taxi drivers compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Moreover, significant associations were found between 1-OHP levels and ICAM-1 expression, % tail DNA, and micronucleus frequency (p < 0.05). Besides, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were positively correlated to % tail DNA and micronucleus frequency (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest an important association between environmental exposure to air pollution with increase of ICAM-1 expression and NTPDase activity in taxi drivers. Additionally, the multiple regression linear-analysis demonstrated association between IL-6 and DNA damage. Thus, the present study has provided important evidence that, in addition to environmental exposure to air pollutants, the inflammation process may contribute to DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anelise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brucker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.|Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.|Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goethel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fracasso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.|Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altknecht
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Lutheran University of Brazil, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.|Laboratory of Research in Parasitology, Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.|Laboratory of Research in Parasitology, Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil.|Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Arbo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP.: 90610-000, Brazil. solange.garcia@ufrgs.br.|Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. solange.garcia@ufrgs.br.|Institute of Cardiology, University Cardiology Foundation, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. solange.garcia@ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Solange Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants; D001336:Automobiles; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001938:Brazil; D020552:Comet Assay; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D011721:Pyrenes; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene
keywords: DNA damage; ICAM-1 expression; Inflammation; NTPDases activity; Taxi drivers