In vitro assessment of the cytotoxic, DNA damaging, and cytogenetic effects of hydroquinone in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Abstract

This study investigated the mechanisms of hydroquinone toxicity and assessed the relationships between its cytotoxic, genotoxic, and cytogenetic effects tested at 8, 140, and 280 µg mL -1 in human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed for 24 h. The outcomes of the treatments were evaluated using the apoptosis/necrosis assay, the alkaline comet assay, and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) cytome assay. The tested hydroquinone concentrations produced relatively weak cytotoxicity in resting lymphocytes, which mostly died via apoptosis. Hydroquinone's marked genotoxic effects were detected using the alkaline comet assay. Significantly decreased values of all comet parameters compared to controls indicated specific mechanisms of hydroquinone-DNA interactions. Our results suggest that the two higher hydroquinone concentrations possibly led to cross-linking and adduct formation. Increased levels of DNA breakage measured following exposure to the lowest concentration suggested mechanisms related to oxidative stress and inhibition of topoisomerase II. At 8 µg mL -1 , hydroquinone did not significantly affect MN formation. At 140 and 280 µg mL -1 , it completely blocked lymphocyte division. The two latter concentrations also led to erythrocyte stabilization and prevented their lysis. At least two facts contribute to this study's relevance: (I) this is the first study that quantifies the degree of reduction in total comet area measured in lymphocyte DNA after hydroquinone treatment, (II) it is also the first one on a lymphocyte model that adopted the "cytome" protocol in an MN assay and found that lymphocytes exposure even to low hydroquinone concentration resulted in a significant increase of nuclear bud frequency. Considering the limitations of the lymphocyte model, which does not possess intrinsic metabolic activation, in order to unequivocally prove the obtained results further studies using other appropriate cell lines are advised.

Irinotecan and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Interactions in Rat Liver: A Preliminary Evaluation Using Biochemical and Genotoxicity Markers

“…In the last three decades, this method has been widely used for the assessment of primary DNA damage, primarily due to its versatility, sensitivity, and ability to detect the broad spectrum of DNA damage, ranging from DNA breaks, alkali-labile sites, DNA–DNA and DNA–protein crosslinks, etc. [ 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 ]. Its usefulness in detecting DNA damage following exposure to IRI was also confirmed in several studies performed on IRI-exposed rodents.…”

The Organogermanium Compound THGP Suppresses Melanin Synthesis via Complex Formation with L-DOPA on Mushroom Tyrosinase and in B16 4A5 Melanoma Cells

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