Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-2027
Normal and Cut-Off Values of the Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus Assay on Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in the Croatian General Population
Nevenka Kopjar
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Vilena Kašuba
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Mirta Milić
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ružica Rozgaj
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Davor Želježić
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Goran Gajski
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marin Mladinić
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Vera Garaj-Vrhovac
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay on peripheral blood lymphocytes is one of the most important methods employed in cytogenetic biomonitoring. For the purposes of biological dosimetry, it is important to kno the spontaneous frequency of a biomarker and its normal values in general population.
These values are used for population databases, which should be updated regularly. In this study, MN levels were investigated in cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes of 200 healthy male and female blood donors selected at random from the general population of Croatia. The aim was to assess the variability and determine possible infl uences of external and/or internal factors on the background levels of MN and to establish the cut-off value for the CBMN assay. The background frequency of MN was (6.90±3.32) MN (median 7 MN) and the range was 0 to 18 MN per 1000 binuclear lymphocytes. The cut-off value, which corresponds to 95th percentile of the distribution of 200 individual values, was 12.5 MN. Spontaneous formation of MN was infl uenced by sex, age, and smoking. Women had higher MN levels than men.
However, only age and smoking signifi cantly increased the values of all parameters evaluated by the CBMN assay. Since the existing literature data on smoking-related formation of MN are contradictory,
we will continue these investigations to resolve how the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the duration of smoking in years infl uence the results of the CBMN assay. Our results are consistent with the background MN frequencies reported by other cytogenetic laboratories worldwide. Normal and cut-off values estimated in this study will be used to update the current general population data and as reference for occupationally or accidental exposure.
Keywords
age; cytogenetic monitoring; gender; genome instability; risk; smoking habits; spontaneous formation of micronuclei
Hrčak ID:
54022
URI
Publication date:
16.6.2010.
Visits: 4.033 *