DNA DAMAGE IN SINGLE CELLS--A BIOMARKER OF EXPOSURE

用于生物监测潜在接触到的人类的DNA损伤 遗传毒性物质，最佳方法应该能够检测到许多 各种细胞类型的DNA损伤类别，应提供以下数据 单个细胞的水平，并应灵敏、快速和 性价比高。建立了一种碱性微凝胶电泳法 发展起来似乎实现了这些目标。单细胞凝胶 (SCG)分析检测单个细胞中单链的存在 断裂和碱不稳定部位。这项技术的其他优点 包括：(1)获得关于DNA在细胞间分布的数据 损坏；(2)需要极少量的细胞(即少数细胞 千个细胞)；以及(Iii)其速度、灵敏度和简单性。这个 拟议的研究将进一步表征这一点的适用性 作为人类体细胞DNA损伤生物标志物的技术 并扩展评估敏感度差异的方法 个体间的遗传毒性物质。当完全描述时，这是 这项技术将使基于血液的人口监测成为可能 通过手指抽查获得的样本。这一能力应该会导致 该技术在临床、环境和医疗领域的广泛应用 职业医学。

For the biomonitoring of DNA damage in humans potentially exposed to genotoxic agents, and optimal method should be capable of detecting many classes of DNA damage in a variety of cell types, should provide data at the level of the individual cell, and should be sensitive, rapid and cost effective. An alkaline microgel electrophoresis assay has been developed which appears to fulfill these goals. The Single Cell Gel (SCG) assay detects, in individual cells, the presence of single strand breaks and alkali-labile sites. Other advantages of this technique include: (1) data are obtained on the intercellular distribution of DNA damage; (ii) extremely small numbers of cells are required (i.e., a few thousand cells); and (iii) its speed, sensitivity and simplicity. The proposed research will further characterize the applicability of this technique as a biomarker for DNA damage in the somatic cells of humans and extend the methodology for evaluating differences in sensitivity to genotoxic agents among individuals. When fully characterized, this technique will allow the monitoring of human populations based on blood samples obtained by fingerprick. This capability should result in the widespread application of this technique in clinical, environmental and occupational medicine.