Micronuclei frequencies in peripheral blood and buccal exfoliated cells of young smokers and non-smokers

Abstract

Cytogenetic biomarkers, such as micronuclei in peripheral blood or oral mucosa, are widely used for evaluation of exposure to genotoxins or carcinogens. Tobacco is one of the strongest carcinogens, responsible for development of different types of cancers. The aim of this study was to assess the genotoxicity of cigarette consumption in young smokers and to correlate results of cytogenetic analysis in peripheral blood lymphocytes and exfoliated buccal cells. The study was conducted on samples taken from 43 smokers and 44 non-smokers, young individuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Significantly higher frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed in smokers (p < 0.05). No significant correlations were found for age, duration and intensity of smoking, and frequency of micronuclei in lymphocytes. Significantly higher frequency of degenerated (apoptotic) buccal cells was also revealed in smokers (p < 0.05). The frequency of apoptotic cells in smokers was significantly influenced by the age of participants (F = 8.649; p < 0.01) and duration of smoking (F = 5.389; p < 0.05). Results of cytogenetic analysis conducted in peripheral blood and exfoliated buccal cells are in significant positive correlation, indicating complementarities of those analyses.

Chromosome aberrations frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes in young tobacco smoking and non-smoking people

“…Their predictive aspect for cancer risk assessment at a group level, especially of micronuclei (12) and chromosomal aberrations (28), is highly important. Our results indicate that higher frequency of chromatid and total structural aberrations are most likely related to cigarette smoking and are in agreement with previously reported results for micronuclei frequencies (22). Other analyses of micronuclei frequencies in Bosnian population also revealed the negative impact of cigarette smoking on genetic material (29,30).…”

“…Mainstream cigarette smoke also caused an elevation of bulky DNA adducts, oxidative DNA damage, and an extensive downregulation of microRNAs in lung (21). In our previous study conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, cigarette consumption increased the micronuclei frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes in group of young smokers (22).…”

“…Blood samples and buccal swabs were simultaneously collected and processed for micronuclei frequency analysis that was previously reported (22), as well as for the chromosome aberration analysis conducted in this study.…”

Nuclear abnormalities in buccal mucosa cells of patients with type I and II diabetes treated with folic acid

“…The effect of smoking on the presence of MN and NA in buccal mucosa cells has been a controversial topic, because some authors have found no relationship, whereas others found an association [10,55,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62]. Some authors have considered diet and the number and type of cigarettes smoked per day (packs per year, with or without filters, regular or light, type and origin of snuff) [55,61,63], but results have been variable.…”

Micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in Mexico’s indigenous population

“…In relation to smoking habits and the number of MN, the reports are very controversial, some authors described that smoking increased the frequency of MN [27][28][29][30] and other authors did not observe this effect. [31][32][33][34] In this study, the smoking habit was similar between the studied groups, and there was no correlation between the number of MN and number of individuals who smoke (table III).…”