Artemis deficiency: A large cohort including a novel variant with increased radiosensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Artemis deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a combined immunodeficiency with increased cellular radiosensitivity. In this review, the clinical and genetic characteristics of 15 patients with DCLRE1C variants are presented. METHODS: The demographic, clinical, immunologic, and genetic characteristics of patients with confirmed DCLRE1C variants diagnosed between 2013 and 2023 were collected retrospectively. Three patients were evaluated for radiosensitivity by the Comet assay, compared with age- and sex-matched healthy control. RESULTS: Seven patients who had severe infections in the first 6 months of life were diagnosed with T-B-NK+ SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency). Among them, four individuals underwent transplantation, and one of those died due to post-transplant complications in early life. Eight patients had hypomorphic variants. Half of them were awaiting a suitable donor, while the other half had already undergone transplantation. The majority of patients were born into a consanguineous family (93.3%). Most patients had recurrent sinopulmonary infections (73.3%), and one patient had no other infection than an acute respiratory infection before diagnosis. Two patients (13.3%) had autoimmunity in the form of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Growth retardation was observed in only one patient (6.6%), and no malignancy was detected in the surviving 11 patients during the median (IQR) of 21.5 (12-45) months of follow-up. Three patients who had novel variants exhibited increased radiosensitivity and compromised DNA repair, providing a potential vulnerability to malignant transformation. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis, radiation avoidance, and careful preparation for transplantation contribute to minimizing complications, enhancing life expectancy, and improving the patient's quality of life.

Increased radiosensitivity and impaired DNA repair in patients with STAT3-LOF and ZNF341 deficiency, potentially contributing to malignant transformations.

STAT3 plays an important role in various complex and sometimes contradictory pathways such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, inflammation, and apoptosis. The transcriptional activity of the STAT3 gene is controlled by a transcription factor called ZNF341. There is insufficient data on radiation sensitivity and post-radiation DNA repair in STAT3- loss-of-function (LOF) patients. We aimed to investigate the radiosensitivity in patients with STAT3-LOF and ZNF341 deficiency. Twelve patients with STAT3-LOF and four ZNF341-deficiency patients were recruited from three clinical immunology centers in Turkey and evaluated for radiosensitivity by the Comet assay, comparing to 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The tail length (TL) (µm), percentage of DNA in the tail (TDNA%), and olive tail moment (OTM) (arbitrary units) were evaluated at the same time for baseline (spontaneous), initial (immediately after 2 Gy irradiation), and recovery (2 h after irradiation) periods by using a computerized image-analysis system, estimating DNA damage. Except for a patient with ZNF341 deficiency who developed nasal cell primitive neuroendocrine tumor and papillary thyroid cancer during the follow-up, there was no cancer in both groups. During the recovery period of irradiation, TL, TDNA%, and OTM values of healthy controls decreased rapidly toward the baseline, while these values of patients with STAT3-LOF and ZNF341 deficiency continued to increase, implying impaired DNA repair mechanisms. Increased radiosensitivity and impaired DNA repair were demonstrated in patients diagnosed with STAT3-LOF and ZNF341 deficiency, potentially explaining the susceptibility to malignant transformation.

Binary and ternary new water soluble copper(II) complexes of l-tyrosine and substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines: effect of substitution on DNA interactions and cytotoxicities.

Binary and ternary water soluble copper(II) complexes - [Cu(nphen)2(H2O)](NO3)2·H2O (1), [Cu(phen)2(H2O)](NO3)2 (2), [Cu(nphen)(l-tyr)(H2O)]NO3·2H2O (3), [Cu(phen)(tyr)(H2O)] NO3·2H2O (4) - and diquarternary salts of nphen and phen (nphen=5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, phen=1,10-phenanthroline and tyr=l-tyrosine) have been synthesized and characterized by CHN analysis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The CT-DNA binding properties of these compounds have been investigated by thermal denaturation measurements, absorption and emission spectroscopy. The supercoiled pUC19 plasmid DNA cleavage activity of these compounds has been explored by agarose gel electrophoresis. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against MCF-7, Caco-2, A549 cancer cells and BEAS-2B healthy cells was also studied by using XTT method. The complexes 1-4 exhibit significant high cytotoxicity with low IC50 values in compared with cisplatin. The effect of the substituents of phen and coordinated amino acid in the above complexes are presented and discussed.

Radio-protective effect of cinnamic acid, a phenolic phytochemical, on genomic instability induced by X-rays in human blood lymphocytes in vitro.

The present study was designed to determine the protective activity of cinnamic acid against induction by X-rays of genomic instability in normal human blood lymphocytes. This radio-protective activity was assessed by use of the cytokinesis-block micronucleus test and the alkaline comet assay, with human blood lymphocytes isolated from two healthy donors. A Siemens Mevatron MD2 (Siemens AG, USA, 1994) linear accelerator was used for the irradiation with 1 or 2 Gy. Treatment of the lymphocytes with cinnamic acid prior to irradiation reduced the number of micronuclei when compared with that in control samples. Treatment with cinnamic acid without irradiation did not increase the number of micronuclei and did not show a cytostatic effect in the lymphocytes. The results of the alkaline comet assay revealed that cinnamic acid reduces the DNA damage induced by X-rays, showing a significant radio-protective effect. Cinnamic acid decreased the frequency of irradiation-induced micronuclei by 16-55% and reduced DNA breakage by 17-50%, as determined by the alkaline comet assay. Cinnamic acid may thus act as a radio-protective compound, and future studies may focus on elucidating the mechanism by which cinnamic acid offers radioprotection.

Effects of fullerenol nanoparticles on acetamiprid induced cytoxicity and genotoxicity in cultured human lung fibroblasts.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of water soluble fullerene (fullerenol) nanoparticles on the in vitro genotoxicity induced by the insecticide acetamiprid. Healthy human lung cells (IMR-90) were treated with fullerenol C60(OH)n (n: 18-22) alone and in combination with acetamiprid for 24h. The micronucleus test, comet assay and γ-H2AX foci formation assays were used as genotoxicity endpoints. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the clonogenic assay. The maximum tested concentration of fullerenol (1.600 µg/ml) induced 77% survival where as the lowest concentration (25 µg/ml) was not cytotoxic where as acetamiprid was cytotoxic. Fullerenol did not induce genotoxicity at tested concentrations (50-1600 µg/L). On the other hand, acetamiprid (>50 µM) significantly induced formation of micronuclei, and double and single stranded DNA breaks in IMR-90 cells. For simultaneous exposure studies, two non-cytotoxic concentrations (50 and 200 µg/ml) of fullerenol and three cytotoxic concentrations of acetamiprid (100, 200 and 400 µM) were selected. As a result, we observed that co-exposure with fullerenol significantly reduced the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of acetamiprid in IMR-90 cells. Our results indicated the protective effect of water soluble fullerene particles on herbicide induced genotoxicity.

Evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of copper-zinc alloy nanoparticles in human lung epithelial cells.

In the present study, in vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of copper-zinc alloy nanoparticles (Cu-Zn ANPs) on human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were investigated. XTT test and clonogenic assay were used to determine cytotoxic effects. Cell death mode and intracellular reactive oxygen species formations were analyzed using M30, M65 and ROS Elisa assays. Genotoxic effects were evaluated using micronucleus, comet and γ-H2AX foci assays. Cu-Zn ANPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements. Characterization of Cu-Zn ANPs showed an average size of 200nm and zeta potential of -22mV. TEM analyses further revealed the intracellular localization of Cu-Zn ANPs in cytoplasm within 24h. Analysis of micronucleus, comet and γ-H2AX foci counts showed that exposure to Cu-Zn ANPs significantly induced chromosomal damage as well as single and double stranded DNA damage in BEAS-2B cells. Our results further indicated that exposure to Cu-Zn ANPs significantly induced intracellular ROS formation. Evaluation of M30:M65 ratios suggested that cell death was predominantly due to necrosis.

Sublethal toxicity of esbiothrin relationship with total antioxidant status and in vivo genotoxicity assessment in fish (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) using the micronucleus test and comet assay.

Esbiothrin, synthetic pyrethroid with quick activity against insects, is widely used against household pests and in public health. Despite widespread use, data on ecotoxicity and genotoxic effects are extremely scarce. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the genotoxic potential of esbiothrin on a model fish species Cyprinus carpio L., 1758 (Pisces: Cyprinidae, koi) using the micronucleus test and comet assay in peripheral blood erythrocytes. Effects of two sublethal exposure concentrations on plasma total antioxidant status (TAS mmol/L), and Hct values were examined. On the basis of the 96 h LC50 data from U.S. EPA ecotox database (32 µg/L) two sublethal exposure concentrations (5 and 10 µg/L) were used together with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) (5 mg/L) as positive control. Five fish were used for each dose/duration group (24, 48, and 72 h) under controlled laboratory conditions. The fish showed behavioral changes at the higher dose. Plasma TAS (mmol/L) levels decreased in 24 h; an increase was observed slightly for 48 and obviously for 72 h in both exposure doses. Similarly, hematocrit (Hct) values differed between exposure duration but no significant differences in mean values were found between groups of the same exposure time. The general trend was a rise after 48 h, which decreased afterwards. Our results revealed significant increases in the frequencies of micronuclei and levels of DNA strand breaks and thus demonstrated the genotoxic potential of this pesticide on fish, a nontarget organism of the aquatic ecosystem. To our knowledge this is the first study to report observable genotoxic effects of esbiothrin on fish.

Radioprotection by two phenolic compounds: chlorogenic and quinic acid, on X-ray induced DNA damage in human blood lymphocytes in vitro.

The present study was designed to determine the radioprotective effect of two phytochemicals, namely, quinic acid and chlorogenic acid, against X-ray irradiation-induced genomic instability in non-tumorigenic human blood lymphocytes. The protective ability of two phenolic acids against radiation-induced DNA damage was assessed using the alkaline comet assay in human blood lymphocytes isolated from two healthy human donors. A Siemens Mevatron MD2 (Siemens AG, USA, 1994) linear accelerator was used for irradiation. The results of the alkaline comet assay revealed that quinic acid and chlorogenic acid decreased the DNA damage induced by X-ray irradiation and provided a significant radioprotective effect. Quinic acid decreased the presence of irradiation-induced DNA damage by 5.99-53.57% and chlorogenic acid by 4.49-48.15%, as determined by the alkaline comet assay. The results show that quinic acid and chlorogenic acid may act as radioprotective compounds. Future studies should focus on determining the mechanism by which these phenolic acids provide radioprotection.

In vivo genotoxicity evaluation of atrazine and atrazine-based herbicide on fish Carassius auratus using the micronucleus test and the comet assay.

Atrazine is a selective triazine herbicide used to control broadleaf and grassy weeds mainly in corn, sorghum, sugarcane, pineapple, and other crops, and in conifer reforestation planting fields. It has been showed that atrazine is one of the most frequently detected pesticides in agricultural streams and rivers, over the past two decades. Although the toxic properties of atrazine are well known, the data on the genotoxic effects of atrazine on aquatic organisms are rather scarce. Thus, in the present study we aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effects of atrazine and an atrazine-based herbicide (Gesaprim®) on a model fish species Carassius auratus L., 1758, (Pisces: Cyprinidae) using the micronucleus test and the comet assay in peripheral blood erythrocytes. Fish were exposed to 5, 10 and 15 µg/L atrazine and to its commercial formulation for 2, 4 and 6 days. Ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) at a single dose of 5 mg/L was used as positive control. Our results revealed significant increases in the frequencies of micronuclei and DNA strand breaks in erythrocytes of C. auratus, following exposure to commercial formulation of atrazine and thus demonstrated the genotoxic potential of this pesticide on fish.

Antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation in liver and gill tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) following in vivo exposure to domoic acid.

Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxicant produced by Pseudo-nitzschia from diatomeae. Although the neurotoxic and genotoxic effects of DA have been well documented, the number of in vivo studies regarding the oxidative stress inducing effects of DA is quite limited. In this study, in vivo toxic effects of DA were investigated on fish Oreochromis niloticus (Fam: Cichlidae), using oxidative stress biomarkers. Fish were exposed to three different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 microg/g body weight) of DA via intraperitoneal injections and the tissues were sampled at 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment. Changes in the level of lipid peroxidation, and activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GRd) were evaluated in liver and gill tissues. Our results revealed dose and time dependent increases in the oxidative stress parameters. It was also observed that the toxic effects were more pronounced in liver than in gill tissue.

In vivo genotoxicity testing of the amnesic shellfish poison (domoic acid) in piscine erythrocytes using the micronucleus test and the comet assay.

Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxic amino acid naturally produced in the marine environment by some diatom species belonging to the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. Although the neurotoxic properties of DA have been demonstrated, very little is known about in vivo genotoxicity of DA on aquatic organisms. In the present paper, an in vivo study on the genotoxic effects of domoic acid was carried out on a fish, Oreochromis niloticus, using the micronucleus test and the comet assay. The fish were exposed to three doses of domoic acid (1, 5 and 10 microg/g body weight) by intracoelomic injections. Ethyl methane sulphonate at a single dose of 5mg/l was used as positive control. Analysis of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities and DNA damage were carried out on peripheral erythrocytes sampled 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment. Our results revealed significant increases in the frequencies of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities as well as DNA strand breaks and thus demonstrated the genotoxic potential of DA on fish.

Genotoxicity testing of the herbicide trifluralin and its commercial formulation Treflan using the piscine micronucleus test.

In this study, the genotoxic effects of a widely used herbicide, trifluralin, and its commercial formulation, Treflan, were evaluated using the micronucleus test in a commercially important fish species, Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia). Fish were exposed to 1, 5, and 10 microg/L doses of trifluralin and Treflan for 3, 6, and 9 days under laboratory conditions. Ethylmethanesulfonate, at a single dose of 10 mg/L, was used as positive control. Micronuclei were evaluated on the peripheral erythrocytes. Both Treflan and trifluralin treatments significantly increased the micronucleus frequencies in peripheral erythrocytes of O. niloticus. Furthermore, the genotoxicity of the active ingredient, trifluralin, was observed to be higher than that of the commercial formulation Treflan. Our results indicate that herbicide trifluralin has genotoxic potential in fish.

The evaluation of toxicity and mutagenicity of various drinking waters in the human blood lymphocytes (HULYs) in vitro.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the toxic and mutagenic effects of bottled purified and natural spring waters for drinking. The study presents the genotoxicologic results of drinking water samples packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Genotoxic agents have the potential to interact with DNA and may cause DNA damage. Endpoints analyzed included mitotic index (MI), replication index (RI), and sister chromatid exchange (SCE). An analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate the results. A significant decrease in MI and RI was observed compared with negative control cultures, respectively, (p<0.05, p<0.01). It is found that SCE frequency increases compared with negative control. There is no significant difference between negative control and drinking water samples and among drinking water samples for sister chromatid exchange induction (p>0.05).

In vivo genotoxicity of mercury chloride and lead acetate: Micronucleus test on acridine orange stained fish cells.

The genotoxic effects of mercury chloride and lead acetate were evaluated in vivo using the micronucleus (MN) assay on acridine-orange (AO) stained peripheral blood erythrocytes, gill and fin epithelial cells of Carassius auratus auratus. Fish were exposed to three different concentrations of mercury chloride (MC) (1 microg/, 5 microg/L and 10 microg/L) and lead acetate (LA) (10 microg/L, 50 microg/L and 100 microg/L) for 2, 4 and 6 days. A single dose of 5 mg/L cyclophosphamide was used as a positive control. In addition to micronuclei, nuclear buds (NBs) were assessed in the erythrocytes. The ratio of polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes (PCE/NCE) in peripheral blood was also evaluated to assess cytotoxicity. MN frequencies in all three tissues were elevated in fish exposed to both LA and MC. However, NBs showed different sensitivity to metal treatments. MN frequencies in both control and treated fish were highest in gill cells and generally lower in erythrocytes and fin cells. PCE/NCE rations decreased in relation to MC and LA treatments. The results of this study indicate that LA and MC have genotoxic and cytotoxic damage in fish and confirmed that AO staining is a suitable technique for in vivo MN test in fish.

Genotoxic biomonitoring study of population residing in pesticide contaminated regions in Göksu Delta: micronucleus, chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges.

Pesticides are widely used throughout the world in agriculture to protect crops and in public health to control diseases. Nevertheless, exposure to pesticides represents a potential risk to humans. This paper describes a study of possible genetic damage in the people living in regions contaminated with complex mixture of pesticides in Göksu Delta. In this study, used methods were chromosomal aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange analysis (SCE) in the peripheral blood lymphocytes, and micronucleus (MN) assay in the buccal epithelial cells. In the present investigation, 32 affected subjects consist of 16 smoking and 16 non-smokings and an equal number of control subjects were assessed for genome damage. Micronucleus (MN), Broken egg (BE), Karyorrhexis (KR), Karyolysis (KL) and Binucleus (BN) frequencies were higher in affected subjects than in controls. Smoking had a statistically significant effect on the Micronucleus, Karyorrhexis and Binucleus frequencies for both the control and the exposed group. Also smoking and exposure affected the frequency of sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberrations compared with control groups.

Detection of cytogenetic and DNA damage in peripheral erythrocytes of goldfish (Carassius auratus) exposed to a glyphosate formulation using the micronucleus test and the comet assay.

Glyphosate is a widely used broad-spectrum weed control agent. In the present study, an in vivo study on the genotoxic effects of a technical herbicide (Roundup) containing isopropylamine salt of glyphosate was carried out on freshwater goldfish Carassius auratus. The fish were exposed to three doses of glyphosate formulation (5, 10 and 15 ppm). Cyclophosphamide at a single dose of 5 mg/l was used as positive control. Analysis of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities and DNA damage were performed on peripheral erythrocytes sampled at intervals of 48, 96 and 144 h posttreatment. Our results revealed significant dose-dependent increases in the frequencies of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities as well as DNA strand breaks. Our findings also confirmed that the alkaline comet assay and nuclear deformations in addition to micronucleus test on fish erythrocytes in vivo are useful tools in determining the potential genotoxicity of commercial herbicides.

Evaluation of river water genotoxicity using the piscine micronucleus test.

The Berdan River, which empties into the Mediterranean Sea on the east coast of Turkey, receives discharges of industrial and municipal waste. In the present study, the in vivo piscine micronucleus (MN) test was used to evaluate the genotoxicity of water samples collected from different locations along the Berdan River. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were exposed in the laboratory for 2, 4, and 6 days, and micronuclei were evaluated in peripheral blood erythrocytes, gill cells, and caudal fin epithelial cells. A single dose of 5 mg/L cyclophosphamide was used as a positive control. In addition to micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities (NAs), such as binucleated cells and blebbed, notched, and lobed nuclei, were assessed in the erythrocytes, and chemical analyses were carried out to determine the amount of heavy metals in the water samples. MN and NA frequencies were significantly elevated (up to 2- to 3-fold) in fish exposed to river water samples taken downstream of potential discharges, and the elevated responses in gill and fin cells were related to the concentration of heavy metals in the water. MN frequencies (expressed as micronucleated cells/1,000 cells), in both treated and untreated fish, were greatest in gill cells (range: 0.80-3.70), and generally lower in erythrocytes (range: 0.50-2.80), and fin cells (range: 0.45-1.70). The results of this study indicate that the Berdan River is contaminated with genotoxic pollutants and that the genotoxicity is related to the discharge of wastes into the river water.

Monitoring of nuclear abnormalities in peripheral erythrocytes of three fish species from the Goksu Delta (Turkey): genotoxic damage in relation to water pollution.

Goksu Delta is a specially protected area in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The delta is classified as a Wetland of International Importance according to the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Increases in population have recently taken place in this region due to heavy agricultural activities and discharges of anthropogenic wastes. In the present study, frequencies of erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities such as, micronuclei (MN) and nuclear buds (NB) were investigated in peripheral blood of three fish species; Clarias gariepinus (Catfish), Alburnus orontis (Bleak), and Mugil cephalus (Mullet) from Akgol (AG) and Paradeniz (PD) lagoons of Goksu Delta. Concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb) were also measured in the water, sediment samples. MN and NA frequencies were elevated in fish from AG and PD lagoons in comparison with those from upstream regions. The results of this study indicate that the lagoons of Goksu Delta contaminated with genotoxic pollutants and that the genotoxicity is related to the agricultural activities and to the discharge of anthropogenic waste waters.

Induction of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in Oreochromis niloticus following exposure to petroleum refinery and chromium processing plant effluents.

The genotoxic effects of effluents from a petroleum refinery and a chromium processing plant were evaluated in Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Perciformes) using the micronucleus test. Fish were exposed to different concentrations (5, 10 and 20%, v/v) of the effluents for 3, 6 and 9 days. Micronucleus analyses were carried out on gill epithelial cells and peripheral blood erythrocytes. Nuclear abnormalities other than micronuclei, considered as genetic damage indicators, were also evaluated on erythrocytes. Cyclophosphamide at a single dose of 4 mg/L was used as a positive control. The results of this study showed that both effluents had genotoxic potential. On the other hand, the level of genetic damage induced by petroleum refinery effluent was considerably higher than that of chromium processing plant effluent. Our results further indicate that nuclear abnormalities other than micronuclei, such as blebbed and lobed nuclei, may also be used as indicators of genotoxic damage.