Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis

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The effects of iron excess on lymphocyte DNA damage in rats

HE Limin,SUN Yongye,CAI Jing,ZHANG Huaqi,WANG Yajin,MA Aiguo*   

  1. Institute of Human Nutrition, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, Shandong, China
  • Received:2014-10-21 Revised:2014-12-29 Online:2015-01-31 Published:2015-01-31

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different doses of iron supplementation on lymphocyte DNA damage in rats. METHODS:Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,iron deficiency group,10 times-iron as control group and 20 times-iron as control group, containing Fe2+ 0.9,0.3,9 and 18 mg,respectively. All rats were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.72 mL iron dextran every other day and the entire study lasted for 6 weeks. The rats in the four groups were provided with deionized water and food without iron,both freely available. After 6 weeks,the level of serum iron was determined by spectrophotomety and the peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA damage was assessed using comet assay. RESULTS:The level of serum iron in the iron deficiency group (53.54 μmol/L) was significantly lower than that of control group (77.62 μmol/L)(P<0.01). In addition,the levels of serum iron in 10 times-iron (104.77 μmol/L) and 20 times-iron groups (205.30 μmol/L) were significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.01). DNA damage assessment indicated that there was no difference between iron deficiency group (25.30 AU) and control group (21.13 AU)(P>0.05). However the DNA damage of 10 times-iron group (82.80 AU) and 20 times-iron group (169.50 AU) were significantly higher than control group (P<0.01) ,being 3.9 times and 8.0 times,respectively,as control group. The results of combined DNA damage induced by 10 μmol/L H2O2 showed that there was no difference between iron deficiency(260.40 AU) group and control group (259.00 AU) (P>0.05). The combined DNA damage of 10 times-iron group (293.80 AU) and 20 times-iron group (308.88 AU) were higher significantly than control group(P<0.01),which were 1.1 times and 1.2 times,respectively,as control group. CONCLUSION:10 times and 20 times iron supplements could improve the iron nutritional status in body or increase the level of iron load. Iron deficiency could not increase the level of usual DNA damage or combined DNA damage,but iron overload could increase the level of lymphocyte DNA damage and combined DNA damage.

Key words: iron, DNA damage, lymphocyte, comet assay, rats