No / In recent years, two techniques for detecting genetic damage in the whole genome have gained importance: the alkaline comet assay, to detect DNA damage such as strand breaks and alkali-labile sites, and a multicolour FISH method, spectral karyotyping (SKY), to identify chromosomal aberrations simultaneously in all metaphase chromosomes. In the present study, the induction of DNA damage in human sperm and lymphocytes in vitro has been studied employing an anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DX). An increase in DNA damage was observed with the comet assay as the median per cent head DNA of sperm significantly decreased from 82.07 and 85.14% in the untreated control groups to 63.48 and 72.52% at doses of 0.8 µM DX. At 1.6 µM the percentage declined to 60.96% (the corresponding tail moment increased from 4.42 to 12.19). In stimulated lymphocytes, a significant increase was observed in tail moment, from 0.72 and 0.53 in controls to 15.17 and 12.10 at 0.2 µM DX, continuing at the same level to a final concentration of 1.6 µM. Structural aberrations found in the parallel SKY study in stimulated lymphocytes at 0.2 µM DX consisted of 14% chromatid-type and 2% chromosome-type aberrations; none were found in controls. The SKY results correlate very well with the findings of the comet assay in lymphocytes where DNA damage was observed at similar doses. This study is the first reporting use of the comet assay and SKY analysis in parallel after chemical treatment. The potential of the two techniques together is evident, as they represent a set of assays feasible for evaluating damage in human somatic and germ cells after chemical treatment (i) by direct observation of two different end-points, detecting general DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations and (ii) by extrapolation from lymphocytes to sperm, which provides a `parallelogram¿ approach in human cells.

No / Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by the genus Plasmodium. It causes one million deaths per year in African children under the age of 5 years. There is an increasing development of resistance of malarial parasites to chloroquine and other currently used anti-malarial drugs. Some plant products such as the indoloquinoline alkaloid cryptolepine have been shown to have potent activity against P. falciparum in vitro. On account of its toxicity, cryptolepine is not suitable for use as an antimalarial drug but a number of analogues of cryptolepine have been synthesised in an attempt to find compounds that have reduced cytotoxicity and these have been investigated in the present study in human sperm and lymphocytes using the Comet assay. The results suggest that cryptolepine and the analogues cause DNA damage in lymphocytes, but appear to have no effect on human sperm at the assessed doses. In the context of antimalarial drug development, the data suggest that all cryptolepine compounds and in particular 2,7-dibromocryptolepine cause DNA damage and therefore may not be suitable for pre clinical development as antimalarial agents.

No / The comet assay or single-cell gel electrophoresis assay is a relatively simple and sensitive technique for quantitatively measuring DNA damage and repair at the single-cell level in all types of tissue where a single-cell suspension can be obtained. Isolated cells are mixed with agarose, positioned on a glass slide, and then lysed in a high-salt solution which removes all cell contents except the nuclear matrix and DNA, which is finally subjected to electrophoresis. Damaged DNA is electrophoresed from the nuclear matrix into the agarose gel, resembling the appearance of a comet, while undamaged DNA remains largely within the proximity of the nuclear matrix. By choosing different pH conditions for electrophoresis, different damage types and levels of sensitivity are produced: a neutral (pH 8–9) electrophoresis mainly detects DNA double-strand breaks, while alkaline (pH ≥ 13) conditions detect double- and single-strand breaks as well as alkali-labile sites. This protocol describes a standard comet assay study for the analysis of DNA damage and outlines important variations of this protocol.

Yes / Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin (Dox), widely used to treat various types of tumours, may result in induced testicular toxicity and oxidative stress. The present investigation was designed to determine whether exposure of isolated and purified mouse germ cells to Dox induces DNA damage in the form of strand breaks (presumably) resulting in apoptosis and to investigate the relative sensitivity of specific cell types. DNA damage was assessed using the Comet assay and the presence of apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay. Isolated mouse germ cells were treated with different concentrations (0.05, 0.5 and 1 mM, respectively) of Dox, and fixed 1 h after treatment. The incidences of both DNA damage shown by single cell gel-electrophoresis and of apoptosis increased significantly in each specific cell type in a concentration-dependent manner. The DNA damage and apoptosis incidences gradually increased with concentration from 0.05 to 1 mM with Dox. Our results indicate that apoptosis plays a vital role in the induction of germ cell phase-specific toxicity caused by Dox with pre-meiotically and meiotically dividing spermatogonia and spermatocytes respectively as highly susceptible target cells. / Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)

Dissertationsschrift zur Erlangung eines doctor medicinae (Dr.med.) der Medizinischen Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus der Technischen Universität Dresden

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Os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos são tóxicos e/ou genotóxicos para diversos organismos marinhos e a toxicidade de muitos deles aumenta consideravelmente quando expostos à radiação ultravioleta artificial ou natural. O presente estudo visou avaliar a fototoxicidade do antraceno sobre a mortalidade e o dano ao DNA, segundo o ensaio cometa, de juvenis de pampos da espécie Trachinotus carolinus. Os peixes foram previamente expostos ao antraceno por 24 horas no escuro nas concentrações de 8, 16 e 32µg/L. e então transferidos para a água limpa e expostos à luz de lâmpadas fluorescentes ou à radiação ultravioleta B artificial (RUVB-35µW/cm2). Grupos controle (água e solvente) foram submetidos às mesmas condições experimentais. As exposições na ausência da radiação ultravioleta foram realizadas por períodos cumulativos de 10, 20 e 30h (5h/dia). Para as exposições à RUVB foram utilizados períodos desde 2 até 10h. Na ausência de radiação ultravioleta o antraceno não revelou ser tóxico, mas sua genotoxicidade, medida como danos ao DNA, apresenta resposta dose-dependente. A RUVB é letal para pampos. A exposição ao antraceno seguida de 2h de incidência de RUVB acelera a morte dos peixes em relação à mortalidade dos animais não contaminados. Este resultado revelou a fototoxicidade do antraceno para a espécie. O ensaio cometa pode ser considerado uma ferramenta sensível e útil para avaliar o efeito genotóxico de HPAs em peixes marinhos costeiros. / Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic and/or genotoxic to a variety of marine organisms and under solar or artificial ultraviolet radiation acute toxicity of many of them can be substantially enhanced. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the phototoxicity of anthracene on the mortality and damage to the DNA, assessed by the comet assay, of juveniles of Florida pompanos, Trachinotus carolinus. The fish were pre-contaminated in the dark by three concentrations of 8, 16 and 32 µg/L of anthracene for 24 hours then transferred to clean seawater to be exposed to fluorescent light or to artificial ultraviolet B radiation (UVB - 35µW/cm2). Control groups (water and ethanol) were carried out in the same experimental conditions. The exposures to fluorescent light were carried out in cumulative periods of 10, 20 and 30 hours (5h/day). The exposures to UVB were conducted during periods of 2 to 10 hours. In the absence of ultraviolet radiation, the anthracene did not prove to be toxic, but its genotoxicity, evaluated as damage caused to the DNA, proved to be dose dependent. The UVB is lethal to Florida pompanos. The exposure of fish to the anthracene following UVB exposure for 2 hours resulted in earlier and higher mortality when compared to uncontaminated fish. These results indicated that anthracene is phototoxic to the pompanos. The comet assay can be considered a sensitive tool to evaluate the genotoxic effect of PAHs in coastal marine fish.

O Ensaio Cometa (Eletroforese em Gel de Célula Única) foi aplicado ao estudo do potencial genotóxico da β-naftoflavona (BNF) em exposição in vivo a eritrócitos de robalos, Centropomus parallelus. Condições específicas para o ensaio cometa de células de sangue de robalos foram estabelecidas com base em informações obtidas em literatura; e através de experimentos com exposição in vitro a diferentes concentrações de peróxido de hidrogênio, e com desenrolamento e eletroforese em diferentes alcalinidades e voltagens. Para avaliar o potencial genotóxico da BNF, os peixes foram expostos a 1ppm e 5ppm de BNF por 24, 48 e 72 horas. Controles foram mantidos em água do mar e em água do mar com DMSO, utilizado com solvente. Células de sangue foram coletadas, submetidas a ensaio cometa em versão alcalina de pH>13 e coradas por prata. Os cometas foram analisados por métodos visuais, incluindo Índice de Danos, Porcentagem de Danos e Freqüência de Danos, e através do sistema de análise de imagem ScionImage. Exposições in vitro de eritrócitos a H2O2 resultaram em relação dose-resposta em pH 12,6 e pH>13, indicando aplicabilidade do ensaio a células de sangue de robalos. Exposições in vivo a BNF indicaram tendência a maior Índice de Danos em grupos expostos comparados a controles, porém não ocorreu diferença significativa estatisticamente. A grande amplitude de variação dos dados, em controles e nos demais grupos experimentais, dificultou sua análise e interpretação. / Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis or Comet Assay was applied to study the genotoxic potential of exposure in vivo to β-naphthoflavone (BNF) on erythrocytes of fat snook, Centropomus parallelus. Specific conditions for the comet assay on fat snook blood cells were established based on information obtained from literature together with results of experiments in which slides were exposed in vitro to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, submitted to unwinding and electrophoresis at different alkalinity and different voltages. To assess the genotoxic potential of BNF, fish were exposed in vivo to 1ppm and 5ppm of BNF for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Controls were exposed to sea water only and sea water plus DMSO, used as carrier. Blood cells were collected, submitted to alkaline version of comet assay at pH>13 and silver stained. Comets were analyzed by visual methods including Damage Index, Percentage of Damage and Frequency of Damage, and by ScionImage image analysis system. In vitro expositions of erythrocytes to H2O2 resulted in dose-response relationship, at pH 12,6 and pH>13, indicating applicability of the assay to blood cells of fat snook. In vivo exposure to BNF showed a slight tendency towards a higher Damage Index, though not statistically significant, in exposed groups as compared to controls. Wide amplitude of variations of data, in the controls as well as in other experimental groups, made their analysis and interpretation difficult.

Câncer de mama é considerado uma das malignidades mais comuns que acometem as mulheres, representando cerca de uma em cada três de todas as neoplasias femininas. Aproximadamente, 90% dos casos de câncer de mama são esporádicos, atribuíveis aos eventos somáticos e cerca de 10% estão associados com a história familial e destes somente 4-5% são decorrentes de fatores hereditários. Em clínica, a radiação ionizante é a principal ferramenta utilizada no controle do crescimento tumoral, além da intervenção cirúrgica e quimioterapia. Há, no entanto, poucas infomnações no que diz respeito a resposta celular frente à ação da radiação ionizante em células-alvo, isto é, em linhagens celulares originárias de câncer de mama. O presente estudo foi proposto para analisar a radiossensibilidade de células humanas tumorals (T-47D e MCF-7) e não tumorals (MCF-10), originárias de mama, submetidas a várias doses (0,5 a 30 Gy) de radiação y de 60Co (0,72 - 1,50 Gy/min). Para tanto, foram utilizados como parâmetros de radiossensibilidade, dano radioinduzido ao DNA, capacidade de reparo e morte celular, por meio das técnicas do micronúcleo, eletroforese de microgel (teste do cometa) e viabilidade celular. Os dados obtidos mostraram que as linhagens tumorais (T-47D e MCF-7) foram mais radiossensíveis que a linhagem não tumoral (MCF-10) para todos os testes utilizados. A linhagem T-47D foi a que apresentou uma maior quantidade de dano radioinduzido, um ciclo celular mais acelerado e uma maior taxa de morte celular. As três linhagens celulares apresentaram uma capacidade de reparo relativamente eficiente, tendo em vista que uma hora após a irradiação, todas elas exibiram uma redução considerável de dano radioinduzido quando comparadas logo após as exposições. Os testes empregados mostraram ser seguros, sensíveis e reprodutíveis e permitiram quantificar e avaliar danos induzidos ao DNA, capacidade de reparo e morte celular, nas três linhagens originárias de mama humana. / Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies that account women, representing about one in three of all female neoplasm. Approximately, 90% of cases are considered sporadic, attributed to somatic events and about 10% have a family history and this only 4 - 5 % is decurrent of hereditary factors. In the clinic, ionizing radiation is a major tool utilized in the control of tumour growth, besides surgery and chemotherapy. There is, however, little information concerning cellular response to the action of ionizing radiation in the target cells, i.e., cell lines originating from breast cancer. The present study proposed to analyze the radiosensitivity of the human tumorigenic (T-47D and MCF-7) and nontumorigenic (MCF-10) cell lines, originating from breast and submitted to various doses (0.5 to 30 Gy) of 60Co rays (0.72 - 1.50 Gy/min). For this purpose, DNA radioinduced damage, repair capacity and cell death were utilized as parameters of radiosensitivity by micronucleus, single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) and cell viability techniques. The data obtained showed that tumorigenic cell lines were more radiosensitive than nontumorigenic breast cells in all assays here utilized. The T-47D cell line was presenting the highest amount of radioinduced damage, a more accelerated proliferation rate and a higher rate of cell death. The three cell lines presented a relatively efficient repair capacity, since one hour after the irradiation all of them showed a considerable reduction of radioinduced damage. The techniques employed showed to be secure, sensitive and reproducible, allowing to quantify and evaluate DNA damage, repair capacity and cell death in the three human breast cell lines.

O carcinoma hepatocelular é um dos tipos de cânceres mais comuns em adultos com sua incidência aumentando mundialmente a cada ano. O tratamento curativo é o transplante de fígado, mas as muitas dificuldades encontradas para o procedimento faz com que a quimioterapia seja amplamente utilizada. Além disso, pode ocorrer quimiorresistência e muitos efeitos adversos, o que impulsiona a busca por novos compostos terapêuticos. L-aminoácido oxidases (LAAO) isoladas de peçonhas de serpentes têm demonstrado bons resultados de citotoxicidade em linhagens celulares tumorais, no entanto estes resultados representam sistemas in vitro em monocultura e estudos recentes demonstram que o microambiente tumoral tem um importante papel na transformação neoplásica, no crescimento e invasão do tumor e na resistência quimioterápica. Assim, avaliou-se uma LAAO purificada da peçonha de Bothrops jararacussu (BjussuLAAO-II) em células de carcinoma hepatocelular (HepG2) em monocultura e em cocultura com células endoteliais de veia umbilical humana (HUVEC) com o objetivo de simular o microambiente tumoral, onde, normalmente, é observado mais de um tipo celular. A atividade citotóxica foi avaliada por meio do ensaio do MTT e do ensaio de sobrevivência clonogênica, a atividade genotóxica por meio do ensaio do cometa, a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio por meio de fluorescência e os danos ao cromossomo por meio do ensaio do micronúcleo. Em células HepG2, em monocultura, todas as concentrações testadas (0,25 - 5,00 ?g/mL) foram citotóxicas e aumentaram os níveis intracelulares de espécies reativas de oxigênio. Verificou-se dano genotóxico na concentração de 5,00 ?g/mL e não houve dano cromossômico. Quando cultivada em cocultura com células HUVEC, as concentrações de 1,00 e 5,00 ?g/mL de BjussuLAAO-II foram citotóxicas às células HepG2 e aumentaram os níveis de espécies reativas de oxigênio. A concentração de 5,00 ?g/mL induziu danos ao DNA e não houve danos aos cromossomos. Estes efeitos podem ser correlacionados ao aumento de espécies reativas de oxigênio intracelulares e as diferenças entre os resultados de mono e cocultura devido à simulação de parte do microambiente tumoral. Em monocultura de células HUVEC, todas as concentrações testadas foram citotóxicas, houve dano genotóxico nas concentrações de 1,00 e 5,00 ?g/mL e nenhuma concentração testada induziu danos cromossômicos. Como há elevada citotoxicidade, danos ao DNA e indução de efeitos pró-oxidantes em células HepG2, BjussuLAAO-II representa um composto promissor no desenvolvimento de novos fármacos antitumorais / Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common types of cancers in adults whose incidence increases worldwide each year. Liver chirurgic and transplantation is the best choice of treatment, but the many difficulties encountered in the procedure cause chemotherapy to be widely used. In addition, chemo resistance and many adverse effects can occur, which improves the search for new therapeutic molecules. L-amino acid oxidases (LAAO) isolated from snake venoms have demonstrated good cytotoxicity results in tumor cell lines, however these results represent in vitro monoculture systems and recent studies have shown that the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in neoplastic transformation in tumor growth and invasion and chemotherapeutic resistance. A LAAO purified from Bothrops jararacussu venom (BjussuLAA-IIO) venom was evaluated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells in monoculture and co-culture with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with the aim of simulating the tumor microenvironment, where more than one cell type is normally observed. Cytotoxic activity was assessed by the MTT assay and clonogenic survival assay, genotoxic activity by comet assay, reactive oxygen species production by fluorescence, and chromosome damage by the micronucleus assay. In HepG2 cells, in monoculture, all concentrations tested (0.25 - 5.00 ?g/mL) were cytotoxic and increased intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species. Genotoxic damage at the concentration of 5.00 ?g/mL was observed and there was no chromosomal damage. When cultured with HUVEC cells, concentrations of 1.00 and 5.00 ?g/mL of BjussuLAA-II were cytotoxic to HepG2 cells and increased levels of reactive oxygen species. The concentration of 5.00 ?g/mL induced DNA damage and there was no damage to the chromosomes. These effects can be correlated to the increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the differences between the mono and co-culture results due to the simulation of part of the tumor microenvironment. In HUVEC monoculture, all concentrations tested were cytotoxic, genotoxic damage at concentrations of 1.00 and 5.00 ?g/mL, and no concentration tested induced chromosome damage. As there is high cytotoxicity, DNA damage and induction of pro-oxidant effects in HepG2 cells, BjussuLAAO-II represents a promising compound in the development of novel antitumor drugs