Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2016, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (3): 179-184.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2016.03.004

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DNA damage and telomere length changes in peripheral leukocytes from lead exposed workers

LU Yao1, LIU Xinxia2, XING Xiumei1, ZHAO Zhiqiang1, OU Xiaoyan1, SU Xiaolin1, SUN Yi1, CHEN Jingli1, SHEN Biling1, JIANG Jun1, HE Yun1   

  1. 1. School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080;
    2. Prevention and Control Center for Occupational Diseases, Zhongshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2016-03-04 Revised:2016-04-05 Online:2016-05-31 Published:2016-05-31

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To investigate the induction of DNA damage and telomere length changes in peripheral leukocytes from lead exposed works in comparison with un-exposed controls.METHODS:21 lead exposed workers from a battery plant in the Pearl River Delta Region and 26 non-exposed workers were investigated. Questionnaires were surveyed. Blood samples and peripheral leukocytes were analyzed for blood lead concentrations, telomere length, Comet assay, and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. RESULTS:Blood lead concentration of exposed workers (3.08±1.86) mg/mL was significantly higher than that (0.26±0.25) mg/mL of the controls (P<0.05). In addition, tail lengthsand micronuclei frequencies in leukocytes from the exposed workers were significantly higher than that of the controls (P<0.05). However, relative telomere lengths from leukocytes of lead exposed workers were shorter than that of the controls(P<0.05). Correlation analyses indicated that micronucleus frequencies in binucleated cells, rate of micronucleated binucleate cells and rate of nucleoplasmic bridges were positively correlated with work age (P<0.05), and the rank correlation coefficient (rs) were 0.447, 0.432, 0.351 respectively. Work age and blood lead concentration were negatively correlated with relative telomere length of leukocytes (P<0.05), and rs were -0.306, -0.394 respectively. CONCLUSION:Lead exposure induced DNA damage, micronuclei and shorter telomere length in peripheral leukocytes of exposed workers.

Key words: telomere length, genetic damage, lead exposure, comet assay, cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay

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