Genetic toxicity of methamphetamine in vitro and in human abusers

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused psychomotor stimulant. Although numerous studies have examined METH-induced neurotoxicity, its ability to produce genotoxic effects has not been evaluated. In this article, we report on the genotoxicity of METH in vitro and in human METH abusers. METH induced his(+) revertants in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100, and increased the frequency of hprt mutants, micronuclei, and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in cultured Chinese hamster ovary K1 (CHO-K1) cells. These METH-induced genotoxic effects were eliminated if METH exposure was conducted in the presence of rat liver S9, indicating that the genotoxicity was caused by METH, and not by metabolites of METH. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers inhibited the METH-induced micronuclei in CHO-K1 cells. Further investigation with 76 human long-term METH abusers and 98 unexposed controls demonstrated that total METH exposure correlated with micronucleus and SCE frequencies in cultured lymphocytes. The results of this study indicate that METH is a genotoxic agent and that ROS may play a role in METH-induced genotoxicity.

The effect of age, gender, diet and lifestyle on DNA damage measured using micronucleus frequency in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

“…Another lifestyle variable that potentially could produce genotoxic effects is the use of recreational and illicit drugs such as methamphetamines (METHs), cocaine, marijuana and heroin (69). However, there is as yet only one study reported showing that MN in PBL are increased in METH users (70). This study on 76 long-term METH abusers and 98 unexposed controls demonstrated that total METH exposure was positively correlated with MN and sister chromatid exchanges frequencies in ex vivo cultured lymphocytes.…”

Uranyl acetate induces hprt mutations and uranium–DNA adducts in Chinese hamster ovary EM9 cells

“…Other agents induce much higher AIMF in repair-proficient cells. Methamphetamine showed an AIMF of 13/10 6 in the CHO K1 line (32). The dietary supplement chromium picolinate produced an AIMF of 58/10 6 surviving cells in the AA8 line (14).…”

What Is Neurofeedback?

“…A recent comprehensive review (Drug Effectiveness Review Project, 2005) of medication treatment for ADD/ADHD concluded that there was no evidence on the longterm safety of the medications used in ADD/ ADHD treatment and that good quality evidence is lacking that drug treatment improves academic performance or risky behaviors on a long-term basis, or in adolescents or adults. In relation to the findings of this review, one of the latest studies (El-Zein et al, 2005) concluded that "the lack of research on long-term effects of methylphenidate [Ritalin] use in humans warrants great concern" (p. 7) because they discovered that after only three months on Ritalin, 100% of children experienced chromosomal aberrations which could increase cancer risk, not unlike the genetic damage that has been found in adult methamphetamine users (Li, Hu, Chen, & Lin, 2003).…”