Mutagenesis Advance Access originally published online on March 27, 2006
Mutagenesis 2006 21(2):167-171; doi:10.1093/mutage/gel015
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No evidence of chromosome damage in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Cell Biology and Cytogenetics Unit, 1Pulmonary Unit and 2Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. It is characterized by a progressive airflow limitation resulting from an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to inhaled gases and particles. Since oxidative stress is thought to play a role in COPD, and since increased oxidative stress is associated with chromosomal instability in several diseases, we investigated whether such relationship also exists in COPD. Whole blood lymphocytes from 49 COPD patients and 48 age- and sex-matched controls were cultivated in vitro and cytogenetic damage was evaluated by micronucleus (MN) and sister-chromatid-exchange (SCE) assays. In patients with COPD, MN frequency was not significantly different from that of controls. Similarly, SCE frequency did not differ in the two groups suggesting no disturbance in DNA replication. Unlike other diseases characterized by oxidative stress, COPD does not appear to be associated with DNA damage.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. National Research Council, Cell Biology and Cytogenetics Lab, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Area della Ricerca, Via Moruzzi 56124, Pisa, Italy. Tel: +39 050 315.2779; Fax: +39 050 315.3328; Email: s.simi{at}ifc.cnr.it