A ação antimicrobiana da nanopartícula de prata (AgNP) favorece seu uso em diversos produtos. Sua toxicidade está relacionada com o tamanho da nanopartícula, seu estado de agregação e a capacidade em gerar espécies reativas de oxigênio (EsRO). O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos citogenotóxicos, como também o estresse oxidativo em eritrócitos de Trachinotus carolinus expostos à AgNP. Os peixes receberam, via injeção intraperitoneal, três diferentes doses de suspensão de AgNP, 3, 1.5 e 0.75 μgAgNP/gpeixe. Após 12, 24, 36, 72 e 108 horas o sangue foi coletado para realizar o ensaio cometa e o teste do micronúcleo (MN) outras anormalidades nucleares (ANE), como também o fígado para a atividade enzimática da catalase. A AgNP demonstrou ser citogenotóxica, como também se capaz de promover o estresse oxidativo em Trachinotus carolinus. Os resultados mostram que os danos ao DNA e a ocorrência de MN e ANE apresentaram relação dose-resposta dependente. A redução no dano ao DNA mostrou estar relacionada com o aumento da atividade da catalase. / Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are applied as antimicrobial agents to many manufactured products. Nanoparticles size, aggregation and its induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with AgNP toxicity. This study was undertaken to examine the citogenotoxicity as well as oxidative stress of AgNP in Trachinotus carolinos erythrocytes. The fish received tree different doses of 3, 1.5 e 0.75 µgAgNP/gfish by intraperitoneal injection. Bloods samples were collected and at 12, 24, 36, 72 and 108 hours post-injection to perform the comet assay and the micronucleus test. Extract of liver were used to measure catalase activity. This study showed that AgNP is citogenotoxic to this species and is able to induce oxidative stress. The results showed that the DNA damage, micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities was dose dependent. The reduction of DNA damage exhibit a close relationship with catalase activity.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:32:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_rutilene_roll.pdf: 2016815 bytes, checksum: e7c5da43dfa30476ca94e16d9b7c9f57 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-07-29 / Among the vast number of types of polysaccharides produced in nature, by plants, algae, and bacteria, xanthan is the one of the few that has functional properties leading to a broad spectrum of uses as well as commercial production in large quantities. It is the second microbial polysaccharide to be developed for an economically process, and it has continued to be the single most important biopolymer in food applications because of this useful properties. The chemical and physical properties of commercial xanthan mainly viscosity and stability with relation to temperature and pH variations, it makes that polysaccharide to be utilised a lot of for food industries, like as thickener and stabilizer of suspensions and emulsions. Because xanthan by patovar pruni is a new material never before introduced into foods, tests should be conduct in conformance with Agência de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) for stablish its safety. And due to a few studies about the genotoxical mighty of xanthan, has been important to make a work about it. In this study, were experimentaly used xanthans produced by 06 and 24 strain from Xanthomonas campestris pv pruni and commercial xanthan from the same bacteria, but by pv campestris (Jungbunzlauer), like a additional component of mice diet, with aim of genotoxical evaluation in this animal model, through comet assay and micronuclei test. The comet assay and micronuclei test data were evaluated and, then, were able to comply no increase DNA damage induced by xanthans evaluated, through of utilised tests. Furthermore, was observed a tendency to decrease cholesterol and glucose levels, in the treatment with xanthans, although its values doesn´t have been significantly inferior to control group. / Entre o vasto número de tipos de polissacarídeos produzidos naturalmente, por plantas, algas e bactérias, xantana é um dos poucos que tem propriedades funcionais com amplo espectro de uso bem como produção industrial em grande escala. É o segundo biopolímero a ser desenvolvido por um processo economicamente viável, e continua a ser o mais importante biopolímero na aplicação em alimentos devido às suas propriedades funcionais. As propriedades químicas e físicas da xantana comercial, principalmente a viscosidade e a estabilidade em relação a variações de pH e temperatura, fazem com que este polissacarídeo seja amplamente utilizado na indústria alimentícia, dentre outras, como espessante e estabilizante de suspensões e emulsões. Devido a xantana do patovar pruni ser um material novo e ainda não utilizado em alimentos, testes devem ser conduzidos de acordo com a Agência de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) para estabelecer a sua segurança. Com base no aumento da utilização destes polímeros na indústria alimentícia e, aos poucos dados referentes à genotoxicidade e aos efeitos sobre os índices de colesterol e glicose dos mesmos, torna-se importante a realização de um estudo sobre os danos ou benefícios que estes polímeros podem proporcionar. No presente estudo, foram usadas experimentalmente as xantanas produzidas pelas cepas 06 e 24 da bactéria Xanthomonas campestris pv pruni e a xantana comercial produzida pela mesma espécie, porém pelo patovar campestris (Jungbunzlauer), como componente adicional na dieta de camundongos, com o objetivo de avaliar o potencial genotóxico destes biopolímeros, neste modelo animal, através do ensaio cometa e do teste de micronúcleos; além de verificar os índices de colesterol e glicose. Os dados do ensaio cometa e do teste de micronúcleos foram avaliados e, então, observou-se que as xantanas produzidas pelas cepas 06 e 24, assim como a xantana comercial, não apresentaram valores significativamente superiores aos controles negativos, na indução de danos no DNA através dos testes utilizados. Além disso, foi observada uma tendência a diminuir os índices de colesterol e glicose, nos tratamentos com as xantanas, embora estes valores não tenham sido significativamente inferiores ao do grupo controle.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-02T13:54:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ClaudiaUmbelinaBaptistaAndrade.pdf: 352738 bytes, checksum: 380be5e60412ee243294a4902837952a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-11-08 / Plants are a source of many biologically active products and nowadays they are of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry. In the present study, the mutagenic potential of the fruit peels extract from Musa paradisiaca was assessed using the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) and micronucleus assays. Animals were treated orally with three different concentrations of the extract (1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg of body weight). Peripheral blood cells of Swiss mice were collected 24 h after the treatment for the comet assay and 48 and 72 h for the micronucleus test. The results showed that the extract of M. paradisiaca induced statistically significant increases in the average numbers of DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes for the two higher doses and a significant increase in the mean of the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes at three tested doses. The polychromatic/normochromatic erythrocytes ratio (PCE/NCE) scored in the tested groups was not statistically different from the negative control, showing that the extract presented no cytotoxic effects. The data obtained indicate that fruit peels extract from M. paradisiaca showed mutagenic effect in the peripheral blood cells of Swiss albino mice. / As plantas em geral são fontes de muitos produtos com atividades biológicas, e atualmente são de grande interesse para a indústria farmacêutica. Musa paradisíaca é uma dessas plantas, cuja casca vem sendo utilizada para tratamento de fissuras na pele, devido ao seu poder cicatrizante, e, devido aos seus altos valores energéticos e nutritivos, também tem servido de alimentação alternativa através da farinha. Visto que nunca foi investigado o efeito da casca desta planta sobre o genoma de mamíferos, foi objetivo deste trabalho analisar o potencial mutagênico do extrato de cascas de Musa paradisíaca sobre células sangüíneas de camundongos Swiss in vivo. Para esta avaliação, foram utilizados o ensaio cometa e o teste do micronúcleo. Os animais foram separados em cinco grupos de seis animais cada, onde em três deles foram testadas, por via oral, três diferentes concentrações do extrato (1000, 1500 e 2000 mg/kg de peso corpóreo). As células do sangue periférico foram coletadas 24 horas após o tratamento para a realização do ensaio cometa e 48 e 72h para o teste do micronúcleo. Os resultados obtidos com o ensaio cometa mostraram que o extrato de Musa paradisíaca induziu aumento estatisticamente significativo na quantidade de danos no DNA dos leucócitos de sangue periférico nas duas maiores concentrações do extrato, e, pelo teste do micronúcleo, um aumento também significativo na média de eritrócitos policromáticos micronucleados nas três doses testadas. A relação de eritrócitos policromáticos e normocromáticos (PCE/NCE) em 1000 células por animal não mostrou diferença significativa em relação ao grupo controle negativo, indicando que o extrato não apresenta citotoxicidade. Com base nas condições do ensaio desenvolvido, os dados obtidos revelaram que o extrato de cascas de Musa paradisíaca apresentou efeito mutagênico em células de sangue periférico de camundongos Swiss albinos.

Submitted by Ricardo Cedraz Duque Moliterno (ricardo.moliterno@uefs.br) on 2016-09-15T21:49:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo Tese Final PDF.pdf: 7598532 bytes, checksum: 876426158d6c8f445be96952d8f7c27b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-15T21:49:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo Tese Final PDF.pdf: 7598532 bytes, checksum: 876426158d6c8f445be96952d8f7c27b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / The use of vegetables with medicinal purposes contributes significantly to the care of the primary needs of assistance to health due to difficult access of the population to medical and pharmaceutical assistance, the high cost of manufactured medications and a tendency for people to use natural origin products. However, technical and scientific information about most of them, particularly with respect to the genotoxic potential, are still insufficient so that the use can be considered safe. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of boldo extracts (Plectranthus ornatus) and soursop (Annona muricata), through the comet assay and micronucleus test in human lymphocytes with cytokinesis blocking (MNCtB). The tests were performed on human lymphocyte cultures exposed to the extracts in three concentrations: 1.000?g/ml, 500?g/ml and 250?g/ml. Hydrogen peroxide (1mM) was used as a positive control in the comet assay and vincristine sulfate (1mM) in MNCtB. As a negative control, 40% ethanol was used in both tests. The processing of the material for the comet assay and MNCtB was done according respectively to the protocols Tice et al. (2000) and Fenech (1993). The comet assay was performed in five repetitions being computed, in each of them, 100 comets in a total of two blades. For MNCtB three repetitions were performed and 1.000 binucleate lymphocytes were computed per slide. The occurrence of DNA damage (comet assay) did not differ between the cell of the cultures exposed to different concentrations of boldo extracts from each other nor compared to the negative control. Higher occurrence of micronuclei (MNCtB) was observed in the cell of the cultures treated with the extract at concentrations of 1.000?g/ml and 500?g/ml when compared to the negative control (p<0.05) and cultures treated with the extract concentration of 250?g/ml. The soursop extracts at concentrations of 1.000?g/ml to 500?g/ml induced damage occurrence to the DNA significantly higher than that observed in the negative control and cultures treated with extract at a concentration of 250?g/ml (p<0.001). The conditions in which this study was performed, the obtained results allow concluding that: 1) boldo extracts are not effective in inducing DNA damage, but depending on the concentration, they present clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects; 2) soursop extracts induce DNA damage under certain concentrations. The results of this study strongly raise the achievement of other addressing the issue, so that the actual genotoxic potential of vegetables analyzed here can be established. / O uso de vegetais com fins medicinais contribui de forma significativa para o cuidado das necessidades prim?rias de assist?ncia ? sa?de devido ao dif?cil acesso da popula??o ? assist?ncia m?dica e farmac?utica, aos altos custos dos medicamentos industrializados e ? uma tend?ncia das pessoas a utilizarem produtos de origem natural. No entanto, informa??es t?cnico-cient?ficas acerca da maioria deles, particularmente no que tange ao potencial genot?xico, s?o ainda insuficientes para que o uso possa ser considerado seguro. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos genot?xicos de extratos do boldo (Plectranthus ornatus) e da graviola (Annona muricata), atrav?s do ensaio cometa e do teste de micron?cleo em linf?citos humanos com bloqueio da citocinese (MNCtB). Os testes foram feitos em culturas de linf?citos humanos expostas aos extratos em tr?s concentra??es: 1.000?g/ml, 500?g/ml e 250?g/ml. Per?xido de hidrog?nio (1mM) foi utilizado como controle positivo no ensaio cometa e sulfato de vincristina (1mM) no MNCtB. Como controle negativo foi usado o etanol 40% em ambos os testes. O processamento do material para o ensaio cometa e MNCtB foi feito de acordo, respectivamente, com os protocolos de Tice et al. (2000) e Fenech (1993). O ensaio cometa foi realizado em cinco repeti??es, sendo computados, em cada uma delas, 100 cometas em um total de duas l?minas. Para o MNCtB foram realizadas tr?s repeti??es e computados 1.000 linf?citos binucleados por l?mina. A ocorr?ncia de danos ao DNA (ensaio cometa) n?o diferiu entre as c?lulas das culturas expostas ?s diferentes concentra??es dos extratos do boldo entre si e nem quando comparadas ao controle negativo. Maior ocorr?ncia de micron?cleos (MNCtB) foi observada nas c?lulas das culturas tratadas com os extratos nas concentra??es de 1.000?g/ml e de 500?g/ml quando comparadas ao controle negativo (p<0,05) e ?s culturas tratadas com o extrato na concentra??o de 250?g/ml. Os extratos da graviola nas concentra??es de 1.000?g/ml e 500?g/ml induziram ocorr?ncia de danos ao DNA significativamente maior do que o observado no controle negativo e nas culturas tratadas com extrato na concentra??o de 250?g/ml (p<0,001). Nas condi??es em que este estudo foi realizado, os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que: 1) extratos do boldo n?o s?o efetivos em induzir danos ao DNA, mas na depend?ncia da concentra??o apresentam efeitos clastog?nicos e/ou aneug?nicos; 2) extratos da graviola induzem danos ao DNA sob determinadas concentra??es. Os resultados deste estudo suscitam fortemente a realiza??o de outros abordando o tema, para que o real potencial genot?xico dos vegetais aqui analisados possa ser estabelecido.

A baixa eficiência e a dificuldade de reprodução de resultados da técnica de transferência gênica mediada por espermatozoides (TGME) têm como possível explicação à ativação de endonucleases espermáticas. Assim, a inibição desta enzima poderia evitar a fragmentação de DNA (exógeno e genômico), possibilitando assim, o uso de maiores concentrações de DNA exógeno, aumentando a eficiência e garantindo a reprodutibilidade da técnica. O ácido aurintricarboxílico (ATA) é um inibidor geral de endonucleases (HALLICK et al., 1977), inclusive das endonucleases espermáticas (MAIONE et al., 1997; MAGNANO et al., 1998). Deste modo, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar a inibição das endonucleases espermáticas, pelo ácido aurintricarboxílico (ATA). Para isso, três experimentos foram realizados: 1) avaliar a inibição das endonucleases espermáticas pela adição do ácido aurintricarboxílico, após incubação com DNA exógeno; 2) verificar a eficiência do ATA na inibição de fragmentação de DNA genômico e 3) detectar o aumento nos índices de internalização após o uso de ATA. Para o primeiro experimento, um ensaio de digestão plasmidial com os plasmídeos PCX-EGFP e pmGENIE3 e três concentrações de ATA (10&micro;M, 25&micro;M e 50&micro;M) foram testados. As digestões dos vetores plasmidiais ocorreram pela incubação dos plasmídeos PCX-EGFP e pmGENIE3, com e sem a presença de ATA, com extratos espermáticos. As incubações ocorreram durante 1 hora à 37ºC e os produtos foram analisados por eletroforese (2 horas, 100mV) em gel de agarose 0,7%. Os resultados foram avaliados em escala de cruzes, no qual 1 foi considerado digestão total dos plasmídeos e 3, a não digestão. Os resultados foram analisados em nível de significância de 5%. Os resultados demonstraram diferenças nas digestões dos dois vetores plasmidiais, sendo o pmGENIE3 mais susceptível à degradação pelo extrato espermático, demonstrando ausência de bandas em algumas replicatas (mediana=1). O PCX-EGFP apresentou inibição parcial da degradação já com 10&micro;M de ATA. Já o pmGENIE só apresentou inibição da degradação com 25 ou 50&micro;M de ATA. Assim a concentração utilizada nos experimentos consecutivos foi a de 50&micro;M. Para o experimento 2, espermatozoides de camundongos da linhagem Bl-6/DBA (F1) foram incubados com duas concentrações (500 ou 1000ng) do plasmídeo PCX-EGFP, com ou sem pré-incubação com ATA. As incubações ocorreram durante 5 horas, em ar com 5% de CO2 à 37ºC. Assim, os espermatozoides foram submetidos ao teste de susceptibilidade à denaturação ácida e ao ensaio de cometa alcalino para verificar possível fragilidade da cromatina. Os dados demonstraram que o uso do ATA em espermatozoides murinos leva à fragilidade do genoma, independente de serem incubados com DNA exógeno e a concentração do mesmo. Além disso, foi possível verificar que pode existir um limiar de concentração ótima para que as endonucleases causem fragmentação do DNA cromossomal, o qual foi de 500ng. O uso de concentrações maiores, como 1000ng, pode ter agido como fator protetor ao DNA genômico, podendo este DNA exógeno ter sido o alvo primário das endonucleases, já que quando as amostras foram incubadas com essa concentração de plasmídeo, não houve altos índices de fragmentação no DNA endógeno. No experimento 3, espermatozoides de camundongos foram incubados com 500 ou 1000ng de PCX-EGFP/106 células, sendo ou não pré-incubados com ATA. O DNA genômico das células espermáticas foi extraído pelo método de fenol clorofórmio, diluído para concentração de 1ng/&micro;l e submetidos à quantificação de DNA plasmidial pela técnica de quantificação absoluta em tempo real (qPCR). Os resultados demonstraram que o ATA não melhorou a eficiência de incorporação, já que tanto na concentração de 500 quanto na de 1000ng de DNA exógeno, a porcentagem foi menor (0,001% para os dois grupos) em relação aos grupos nos quais este não foi utilizado. Os grupos em que o ATA não foi utilizado não apresentaram diferença entre si demonstrando que a quantidade de 500ng de DNA exógeno foi suficiente na internalização deste ao espermatozoide, sendo a porcentagem de incorporação maior do que 1000ng (0,20% contra 0,10%). Contudo, o uso do inibidor de endonucleases, ao invés de aumentar os índices de incorporação apresentou resultados opostos, indicando que seu uso não trouxe melhorias para a técnica de TGME. / The low efficiency and low repeatability of sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) could be due to the activation of sperm endonucleases. The inhibition of this enzyme would avoid genomic DNA fragmentation enabling the use of higher concentrations of exogenous DNA, increasing the efficiency and ensuring the reproducibility of this technique. Aurintricarboxilic acid (ATA) is a general inhibitor of endonucleases (HALLICK et al., 1977), including sperm endonucleases (MAIONE et al., 1997; MAGNANO et al., 1998). This study aimed to evaluate the inhibition of sperm endonucleases using the aurintricarboxilic acid (ATA). For that, three experiments were set: 1) evaluate the inhibition of sperm endonucleases by adding aurintricarboxilic acid after incubation with exogenous DNA, 2) study the inhibition efficiency of ATA in genomic DNA fragmentation and 3) detect exogenous DNA internalization after the use of ATA. For the first experiment, a plasmid digestion assay with pmGENIE3 and PCX-EGFP and three concentrations of ATA (10&micro;M, 25&micro;M and 50&micro;M) were tested. The digestion of plasmid vector occurred by incubation of PCX-EGFP and pmGENIE3 with and without the presence of ATA with sperm extracts. Incubations took place for 1 hour at 37°C and the products were analyzed by electrophoresis (2 hours, 100mV) in 0,7% agarose gel. The results were evaluated on a cross scale whereas 1 was considered a total plasmid digestion and 3 no digestion. The results were analyzed with a significance level of 5%. The results show differences in the digestion of the two plasmid vectors, being pmGENIE3 more susceptible to degradation by sperm extract, demonstrating absence of bands in some replicates (median = 1). The PCX-EGFP showed a parcial inhibition of the degradation using 10&micro;M ATA. PmGENIE3 presented inhibiting of degradation only using 25 or 50&micro;M of ATA. Thus, the concentration used in the consecutives experiments was 50&micro;M. For experiment 2, sperm from Bl-6/DBA (F1) mice strain were incubated with two concentrations (500 or 1000ng) of the PCX-EGFP plasmid, with and without pre-incubation with ATA. Incubation took place for 5 hours, with 5% CO2 in air, at 37°C. Sperm samples were subjected to acid denaturation susceptibility test and alkaline comet assay to check for possible chromatin fragility. The data showed that the use of ATA in murine sperm leads to a fragility of their genome, independently of the incubation with exogenous DNA and its concentration. Result showed that there might be a threshold concentration for chromosomal DNA fragmentation caused by endonucleases, which was 500ng of plasmid. The use of higher concentrations, as 1000ng, may be a protective factor for genomic DNA integrity, since exogenous DNA seems to be the primary target of endonucleases, showed by, lower DNA fragmentation levels. In experiment 3, sperm were incubated with 500 or 1000ng PCX-EGFP/106 cells, pre-incubated or not with ATA. Genomic DNA was extracted by phenol chloroform method, diluted to concentrations of 1ng/&micro;l and subjected to quantification of plasmid DNA insertions by absolute quantification in real-time PCR (qPCR). The results showed that ATA did not improve the efficiency of DNA internalization, whereas both concentration of 500 and 1000ng presented a lower percentage of exogenous DNA integration (0.001% in both groups) compared with the groups in which ATA was not used. The groups without ATA did not differ indicating that the amount of 500ng of DNA was able to integrate exogenous DNA to sperm, and have higher percentage of incorporation compared to 1000ng (0,20% versus 0,10%). Thereby, the use of an endonuclease inhibitor instead of increasing integration indexes showed opposite results, indicating that its use did not bring improvements to the SMGT technique.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) is a useful tool for monitoring individuals who may be at risk of DNA damage and the ensuing process of carcinogenesis or other disease states. Leukocytes in blood samples provide a means of obtaining cells for use in the comet assay. However instances may arise when samples must be stored for later analysis. The present study investigated the effects of storage conditions on DNA damage in the form of strand breaks and oxidized bases in rat and human leukocytes using the comet assay. Whole blood and buffy coat samples were stored at room temperature or 4ºC for 1, 2, 24, and 48 hours or cryopreserved at -80ºC for 1 day and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. The results show that the time of storage is limited if the whole blood or buffy coat samples are stored at room temperature or 4ºC. However, if cryopreserved using glycerol or DMSO as the cryoprotectant, the samples may be stored for at least 4 weeks without DNA strand breaks or oxidative damage deviating significantly from the fresh samples.

Ever increasing applications of nanomaterials (materials with one or more dimension less than 100 nm) has raised awareness of their potential genotoxicity. They have unique physico¿chemical properties and so could have unpredictable effects. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) are widely used in a number of commercial products. There are published studies indicating that some forms of these compounds may be photo-clastogenic in mammalian cells. What has not been investigated before is the effect of nanoparticles from these compounds in human germ cells. Thus the present study has examined their effects in the presence and absence of UV light in human sperm and compared responses to those obtained with human lymphocytes using the Comet assay to measure DNA damage. The effect of nanoparticles (40-70nm range) was studied in human sperm and lymphocytes in the dark, after pre-irradiation with UV and simultaneous irradiation with UV. The studies do provide some evidence that there are photo-genotoxic events in sperm and lymphocytes in the absence of overt toxicity. The cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of ZnO and TiO2 as well as their effect on phosphotyrosine expression, were examined in the human epithelial cervical carcinoma cells (Hela cells). This was done to try and determine the underlying molecular events resulting from their exposure to ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles occurring at the same time as DNA is damaged. Concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, and an increase in DNA and cytogenetic damage with increasing nanoparticle concentrations were reported in this study. Mainly for zinc oxide, genotoxicity was clearly associated with an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Nanotechnology has raced ahead of nanotoxicology and little is known of the effects of nanoparticles in human systems, let alone in diseased individuals. Therefore, the effects of TiO2 nanoparticles in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with respiratory diseases (lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma) were compared with those in healthy individuals using genotoxic endpoints to determine whether there are any differences in sensitivity to nano-chemical insult between the patient and control groups. The results have shown concentration dependent genotoxic effects of TiO2 in both respiratory patient and control groups in the Comet assay and an increasing pattern of cytogenetic damage measured in the micronucleus assay without being statistically significant except when compared with the untreated controls of healthy individuals. Furthermore, modulation of ras p21 expression was investigated. Regardless of TiO2 treatment, only lung cancer and COPD patients expressed measurable ras p21 levels that showed modulation as the result of nanoparticle treatment. Results have suggested that both ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles can be genotoxic over a range of concentrations without either photoa-ctivation or being cytotoxic.

For the past few decades, the popularity of graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials (NMs) has increased exceedingly due to their biomedical applications in drug delivery of anti-cancer drugs. Their unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area and good surface chemistry with unbound surface functional groups (e.g. hydroxyl - OH, carboxyl /ketone C=O, epoxy/alkoxy C-O, aromatic group C=C, etc) which enable covalent bonding with organic molecules (e.g. RNA, DNA) make GO NMs as excellent candidates in drug delivery nanocarriers. Despite the overwhelming biomedical applications, there are concerns about their genotoxicity on human DNA. Published genotoxicity studies on GO NMs were performed using non-commercial GO with 2-3 layers of GO sheets, synthesized in various laboratories with the potential for inter-laboratory variabilities. However, what has not been studied before is the effects of the commercial GO (15-20 sheets; 4-10% edge-oxidized; 1 mg/mL) in vitro on DNA damage in human whole blood and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from real-life patients diagnosed with chronic pulmonary diseases [asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer], and genotoxic endpoints compared with those from healthy control individuals to determine whether there are any differences in GO sensitivity. Thus, in the present study, we had characterized GO NMs using Zetasizer Nano for Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and zeta potential (ZP) in the aqueous solution, and electron microscopy using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) in the dry state, respectively. Cytotoxicity studies were conducted on human PBL from healthy individuals and patients (asthma, COPD, and lung cancer) using the Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) assays, respectively. The genotoxicity (DNA damage) and cytogenetic effects (chromosome aberration parameters) induced by GO NMs on human whole blood from healthy individuals and patients were studied using the Alkaline Comet Assay and Cytokinesis-blocked Micronucleus (CBMN) assay, respectively. Our results showed concentration-dependent increases in cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and chromosome aberrations, with blood samples from COPD and lung cancer patients being more sensitive to DNA damage insults compared with asthma patients and healthy control individuals. Furthermore, the relative gene and protein expressions of TP53, CDKN1A/p21, and BCL-2 relative to GAPDH on human PBL were studied using the Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western Blot techniques, respectively. Our results have shown altered gene and protein expression levels. Specifically, GO-induced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and micronuclei aberrations were associated with TP53 upregulation - a biomarker of DNA damage - in both patients and healthy individuals. These effects show that GO NMs have promising roles in drug delivery applications when formulated to deliver drug payload to COPD and cancer cells. However, the fact that cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, chromosome instability, and gene/protein expressions - biomarkers of cancer risk - were observed in healthy individuals are of concern to public health, especially in occupational exposures at micro levels at the workplace.

No / Drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs) are generated by the chemical disinfection of water and may pose hazards to public health. Two major classes of DBPs are found in finished drinking water: haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs). HAAs are formed following disinfection with chlorine, which reacts with iodide and bromide in the water. Previously the HAAs were shown to be cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of HAAs in human somatic and germ cells and whether oxidative stress is involved in genotoxic action. In the present study both somatic and germ cells have been examined as peripheral blood lymphocytes and sperm. The effects of three HAA compounds: iodoacetic acid (IAA), bromoacetic acid (BAA) and chloroacetic acid (CAA) were investigated. After determining appropriate concentration responses, oxygen radical involvement with the antioxidants, butylated hydroxanisole (BHA) and the enzyme catalase, were investigated in the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay under alkaline conditions, >pH 13 and the micronucleus assay. In the Comet assay, BHA and catalase were able to reduce DNA damage in each cell type compared to HAA alone. In the micronucleus assay, micronuclei (MNi) were found in peripheral lymphocytes exposed to all three HAAs and catalase and BHA were in general, able to reduce MNi induction, suggesting oxygen radicals play a role in both assays. These observations are of concern to public health since both human somatic and germ cells show similar genotoxic responses.

Im Rahmen der Studien zur Wirkung von Bleinitrat auf die Embryonalstadien des afrikanischen Welses Clarias gariepinus wurde zunächst der Einfluß der Besamung auf den Härtungsprozess des Chorions untersucht, um die Bedeutung des gehärteten Chorions als Schutzfunktion im Hinblick auf Schadstoffeinwirkung zu klären. Das Studium der Embryonalentwicklung war erforderlich, um das Ausmaß der Änderung der Normalentwicklung unter dem Einfluß von Bleinitrat bewerten zu können. Im Rahmen der toxikologischen Untersuchungen der Wirkung des Bleinitrats auf die Embryonalstadien wurden folgende biologische Marker (Biomarker) betrachtet: Änderungen in der Entwicklung und der Schlüpfrate, morphologische und histologische Änderungen, sowie biochemische Veränderungen (Änderungen von Stoffwechsel-Enzymaktivitäten) und molekulare Veränderungen (Erfassung von DNA-Schädigungen). Die Exposition der besamten Eier mit Bleinitrat führte zu einer Verlängerung der Inkubationszeit und zu starken Mißbildungen. Der Rückgang der Häufigkeiten der Mißbildungen mit der Zeit ließ die Annahme zu, daß die mißgebildeten Embryonen starben. Im Gegensatz zu den morphologischen Mißbildungen wurden histopathologische Effekte nur bei Embryonen gefunden, die den höchsten Dosierungen (300 µg/l und 500 µg/l Bleinitrat) ausgesetzt waren. Nach dem Schlupf war das Muster der Enzymaktivitäten nach Exposition mit Bleinitrat uneinheitlich; die Aktivität von G6PDH nahm zu, die von LDH nahm ab und die von PK zeigte unregelmäßige Fluktuationen. Die Embryonalstadien zeigten signifikante Dosis-abhängige Antworten über die Zeit, da das Ausmaß der DNA-Schädigungen signifikant mit den Bleinitrat Konzentrationen anstieg. Vor dem Schlupf konnten bei den Embryonen nach Bleinitrat Exposition keine Änderungen in den Enzymaktivitäten gefunden werden und nur geringe DNA-Schädigungen, d.h die toxischen Effekte waren sehr gering. Eine Erklärung könnte die schützende Wirkung der Eihülle gegenüber Schadstoffen sein. Die gewählten Biomarker stellen sensitive Detektionsmethoden für Bleinitrat dar. So könnten sie sich als sinnvolle Bioindikatoren für Ägypten erweisen, da dort zunehmend Umweltverschmutzung mit Blei und Bleiakkumulation in Lebensmitteln zu verzeichnen ist. / In order to study the embryo-toxic effects of lead nitrate of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus, we first had to study the effect of fertilization on the hardening process of the chorion to clarify the role of the hardened chorion on the protection of the embryo from the pollutants. Also we had to study the embryonic development of C. gariepinus for providing us with a model for comparison when normal patterns of development are altered due the exposure to lead nitrate. The present toxicological work focuses on lead toxicity in different developmental stages of C. gariepinus considering different biological markers (biomarkers) comprising changes in the development and hatching rate, morphological and histological changes, biochemical changes (alteration of metabolic enzymes activity) and molecular changes (monitoring of DNA damage). Exposure of fertilized eggs to lead nitrate prolonged the incubation period and caused severe morphological malformations. Since the frequencies of the morphological malformations decreased with time, we conclude a lethal impact and selected mortality of abnormal embryos. Unlike the morphological malformation, histopathological changes were only recorded in embryos exposed to the highest dosages (300 µg/l and 500 µg/l lead nitrate). In the post-hatching stages, the patterns of the enzymes activities after lead exposure varied, G6PDH increased, LDH decreased and PK showed fluctuations. Embryonic stages revealed significant dose-related DNA damage response over time, since the degree of DNA damage increased significantly with higher lead concentrations. No specific response in the activities of the selected enzymes and low DNA damage were recorded in the pre-hatching stage after exposure to the lead nitrate doses. This means the lead nitrate had a minute toxic effect on the pre-hatched embryos. We conclude that, low susceptibility in pre-hatching stages is most probably a consequence of the chorion, which seems to protect the embryos from a range of external pollutants. The selected biomarkers were sensitive detection methods for low-level toxicity of lead nitrate. Thus, these are useful tools for biomonitoring, urgently required in Egypt with regard to increasing environmental deposition of lead and bioaccumulation in human food recently observed.