Background. Epidemiological studies have found a consistent association between exposure to air pollution, especially to particulate matter (PM), and the incidence and mortality for several chronic diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Among the mechanisms responsible for these adverse effects, genotoxic damage is of particular concern. Children are a high risk group with respect to the short- and long-term effects of air pollution. Indeed recent data suggest that genetic damage occurring early in childhood can increase the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer, in adulthood. In the MAPEC (Monitoring Air Pollution Effects on Children for supporting public health policy) study, early biological effects of air pollution are evaluated in children by the buccal micronucleus cytome assay. Methods. The micronucleus cytome assay was performed in exfoliated buccal mucosa (BM) cells of 6–8-year-old children from five Italian towns (Brescia, Torino, Pisa, Perugia and Lecce) characterized by different concentrations of air polluntants. About 1,000 children were recruited in the study and BM cells were collected using a small-headed toothbrush. The cells were fixed on microscope slides and stained with Feulgen/LightGreen for both bright field and fluorescence microscopic analysis. Results. BM cells were gathered as: basal cells, normal differentiated cells, apoptotic/necrotic cells (i.e. condensed chromatin, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, fragmented nucleus and karyolitic), binucleated cells. The biomarkers of genome damage (i.e. micronuclei and nuclear buds) were evaluated only in normal differentiated cells. Microscope analysis of cells sampled on winter 2014 is still ongoing. Preliminary data will be presented at the conference. Conclusions. The main objective of the MAPEC study is to evaluate the associations in children between air pollutants and early biological effects, and to propose a model for estimating the global genotoxic risk. Key message The aim of the MAPEC study is to evaluate the associations between air pollution and biomarkers of early biological effects in children, and to propose a model to estimate the global genotoxic risk
Evaluation of air pollution genotoxic effects in children by the buccal micronucleus cytome assay
LEVORATO, SARA;VANNINI, SAMUELE;SALVATORI, TANIA;FATIGONI, Cristina;MORETTI, Massimo;MONARCA, Silvano;
2015
Abstract
Background. Epidemiological studies have found a consistent association between exposure to air pollution, especially to particulate matter (PM), and the incidence and mortality for several chronic diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Among the mechanisms responsible for these adverse effects, genotoxic damage is of particular concern. Children are a high risk group with respect to the short- and long-term effects of air pollution. Indeed recent data suggest that genetic damage occurring early in childhood can increase the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer, in adulthood. In the MAPEC (Monitoring Air Pollution Effects on Children for supporting public health policy) study, early biological effects of air pollution are evaluated in children by the buccal micronucleus cytome assay. Methods. The micronucleus cytome assay was performed in exfoliated buccal mucosa (BM) cells of 6–8-year-old children from five Italian towns (Brescia, Torino, Pisa, Perugia and Lecce) characterized by different concentrations of air polluntants. About 1,000 children were recruited in the study and BM cells were collected using a small-headed toothbrush. The cells were fixed on microscope slides and stained with Feulgen/LightGreen for both bright field and fluorescence microscopic analysis. Results. BM cells were gathered as: basal cells, normal differentiated cells, apoptotic/necrotic cells (i.e. condensed chromatin, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, fragmented nucleus and karyolitic), binucleated cells. The biomarkers of genome damage (i.e. micronuclei and nuclear buds) were evaluated only in normal differentiated cells. Microscope analysis of cells sampled on winter 2014 is still ongoing. Preliminary data will be presented at the conference. Conclusions. The main objective of the MAPEC study is to evaluate the associations in children between air pollutants and early biological effects, and to propose a model for estimating the global genotoxic risk. Key message The aim of the MAPEC study is to evaluate the associations between air pollution and biomarkers of early biological effects in children, and to propose a model to estimate the global genotoxic riskI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
