单细胞凝胶电泳技术

单细胞凝胶电泳(single cell gel electrophoresis assay,SCGE)也叫彗星试验,是一种快速、敏感、简便的细胞DNA损伤检测技术。章简要介绍了SCGE的原理、主要技术流程及其注意事项、存在问题与发展前景。     

人参皂甙对缺氧大鼠海马DG区神经细胞DNA损伤保护作用的研究

目的:用单细胞凝胶电泳技术(SCGE)研究急慢性缺氧大鼠海马DG区神经细胞细胞DNA损伤和人参皂甙对缺氧大鼠海马细胞DNA的保护作用.方法:健康成年SD大鼠随机分为急、慢性缺氧正常对照组、急性缺氧组和慢性缺氧组(分别在模拟海拔5000米高原环境连续缺氧暴露0d、3d和30d)、急性缺氧人参皂甙干预组、慢性缺氧人参皂甙干预组.应用SCGE检测海马DG区神经细胞DNA损伤.结果:随着缺氧时间的增加,海马DG区神经细胞DNA的损伤程度加重,尾长、尾部DNA百分含量和尾距显著增加(P＜0.05).人参皂甙能使缺氧损伤的海马DG区神经细胞的尾长、尾部DNA百分含量和尾距均较缺氧组减少(P＜0.05).结论:人参皂甙能有效地减轻缺氧引起的海马组织细胞DNA的断裂损伤.     

抗菌肽CM4组分对K562癌细胞染色质DNA断裂作用的SCGE研究

单细胞凝胶电泳法（singe cell gel electrophoresis, SCGE)是一种快速,敏感的检测单个哺乳动物细胞DNA断裂的技术,也叫彗星实验（comet assay).此实验首次通过SCGE法观察抗菌肽CM4组分对人髓样白血病K562细胞和正常人白细胞核染色质DNA的影响,从而进一步研究抗菌肽抗癌作用的机制.荧光显微镜观察显示经抗菌肽CM4组分处理过的K562癌细胞核染色质DNA出现断裂,形成一个亮的荧光头部和彗星似的尾部,而经同样处理的正常人白细胞和未经抗菌肽处理的K562癌细胞核染色质DNA未出现断裂,核完整,呈圆形.经彗星尾长分析,前者DNA损伤率平均为73.62%,统计学处理P＜0.001,具高度显著性差异.这表明,抗菌肽CM4对K562癌细胞核染色质DNA有明显的断裂作用,而对正常人白细胞则没有断裂作用.     

紫外辐射诱导植物叶片DNA损伤敏感性差异

单细胞凝胶电泳(彗星检测, comet assay)技术已广泛应用于动物细胞DNA损伤检测, 但在植物细胞DNA损伤检测中的应用尚不多见。本研究通过对动物细胞彗星检测方法的改进, 利用植物细胞原生质体作为材料, 研究了不同发育期九里香(Murraya panicuata)叶片对UV-B诱导的DNA损伤的敏感性差异。彗星检测结果表明, 九里香叶片DNA的损伤程度与UV-B辐射的剂量呈正相关; 在相同UV-B辐射剂量下, 九里香幼嫩叶片比成熟叶片的DNA损伤量大, 表明其幼嫩叶片对UV-B辐射的敏感性比成熟叶片高。     

重金属Cd2+、Pb2+ 和Zn2+ 对泥鳅 DNA损伤的研究

采用单细胞凝胶电泳技术(SCGE),研究重金属Cd2 、Pb2 、Zn2 在不同暴露时间(1—35d)、单一重金属离子不同暴露浓度(0.05mg/L、0.5mg/L、5.0mg/L)或混合重金属离子(Cd2 Pb2 、Cd2 Zn2 、Pb2 Zn2 、Cd2 Pb2 Zn2 )相同浓度(0.5mg/L)条件下对泥鳅肝胰脏细胞核DNA的损伤作用。以带彗尾核DNA百分率和彗尾长度(TL)与核直径(D)比值为指标,探讨DNA损伤级别与处理浓度间的相关性。结果显示,随着处理时间的延长,带彗尾核DNA百分率和TL/D值均呈上升趋势,5.0mg/L Zn2 组28d时带彗尾核DNA百分率最高(84.85%),35d的TL/D值亦为所有组中最高(2.50);对DNA损伤作用,初期以1级损伤为主,7d后以3级损伤为主,且损伤率超过80%;Cd2 、Pb2 和Zn2 之间的联合毒性表现复杂,但总体表现为Cd2 存在时能增强Pb2 或Zn2 对DNA的损伤作用。总之,重金属Cd2 、Pb2 和Zn2 对泥鳅肝胰脏细胞核DNA损伤具有明显的浓度和时间效应,利用SCGE技术可对水环境污染导致的生物基因毒性作用进行监测。     

彗星系统定量检测柠檬醛损伤黄曲霉DNA的研究

理化因素致细胞DNA损伤,彗星测试提供了一个直观的方法。采用新型SCGE图象分析系统(IMI10),将细胞显微分光光度分析与显微成像及图象分析结合,直接检测柠檬醛致黄曲霉核DNA损伤,与国际流行的SCGE图象分析系统相比,具有分析速度快、便于分析,同时具有中英文可切换界面和多格式输出打印特点。该系统使彗星试验的检测时间缩短2/3,并提高了准确性,可实现对活细胞多种结构参数、细胞内分子与膜的变化状况同时进行长时间连续的动态瞬间监测,具有广阔应用前景。     

SCGE技术检测镉对大弹涂鱼外周血细胞DNA损伤

本研究以大弹涂鱼为实验材料,采用SCGE技术并对该技术中通过对缓冲液、铺胶方法、裂解液及不同解旋时间的优化来检测镉对大弹鱼外周血细胞DNA的损伤作用.结果表明,染毒后镉使大弹涂鱼外周血细胞均出现了拖尾现象,经过筛选,采用Ringer's缓冲液、"三明治"式铺胶法、裂解液C、40 min解旋时间进行实验效果最好.通过优化SCGE条件所得结果来看,本研究提高了SCGE对大弹涂鱼血细胞DNA损伤的检测效率,为SCGE技术间接作为水环境监测的有效工具提供更多的方法学参考.     

不同发育阶段斑马鱼胚胎对X射线辐射敏感性差异

目的:考察X射线对斑马鱼早期胚胎发育的影响,探讨其影响机制.方法:用X射线照射不同发育时段的斑马鱼胚胎,统计死亡率和畸形率;应用单细胞凝胶电泳(SCGE)技术检测X射线对胚胎DNA损伤的影响;采用DCFH-DA测定胚胎活性氧;总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)测定;结果:X射线照射对斑马鱼胚胎发育有明显的影响,能够导致胚胎发育畸形如围心腔水肿、脊柱扭曲、尾部弯曲等多种畸形甚至死亡;检测X射线对斑马鱼胚胎DNA损伤时,发现X射线照射对胚胎中的DNA能够产生明显的损伤,且DNA损伤程度随胚胎发育的进行而减弱;胚胎经X射线照射后活性氧的产生增加;胚胎总抗氧化能力随着胚胎发育的进行而逐渐增强;结论:X射线照射明显影响斑马鱼胚胎发育,并造成胚胎细胞DNA损伤,发育早期胚胎敏感性高;发育后期胚胎对X射线敏感性降低,可能与胚胎细胞抗氧化能力增强有关.     

苯胺致小鼠肝细胞和淋巴细胞DNA损伤及其修复效应

目的研究苯胺的遗传毒性及其修复动力学效应。方法应用单细胞凝胶电泳(SCGE)技术,检测100 mg/kg苯胺单次灌胃3、8、16、24、32 h后,对KM小鼠肝细胞和淋巴细胞DNA损伤及时效关系。结果 SCGE实验结果显示肝细胞从8 h开始尾长和尾矩逐渐增大,至16 h DNA损伤程度达到最大,相比对照组差异有显著性(P0.01),随着时间的延长,DNA损伤程度逐渐减轻,在32 h DNA损伤已恢复正常,与对照组相比差异无显著性(P0.05);而淋巴细胞则在16 h开始尾长和尾矩逐渐增大,24 h时达到最大,32 h时DNA损伤逐渐恢复。结论苯胺对肝细胞和淋巴细胞具有潜在的遗传毒性;2个DNA损伤指标的变化存在明显的时间效应关系,说明这两种细胞具有有效DNA修复机制。     

微囊藻毒素对尼罗罗非鱼原代肝细胞致毒机理的探讨

采用离体细胞培养诱导方法,研究微囊藻毒素-LR(microcystin-LR,MC-LR)对尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)原代肝细胞的毒性效应.尼罗罗非鱼原代肝细胞经10、50、150、500 μg/L MC-LR体外诱导24h后,单细胞微量凝胶电泳(SCGE)检测显示,与对照组相比处理组出现明显的彗星拖尾现象,说明MC-LR可引起尼罗罗非鱼肝细胞DNA的损伤,并随着剂量的增加,DNA的损伤程度增大.PI/Annexin V双染色流式细胞仪(FCM)检测表明MC-LR能明显引起肝细胞凋亡,与SCGE结果一致,且DNA损伤程度越大,细胞早期凋亡率越高,呈现明显的时间、剂量依赖性.本研究为进一步从分子、细胞水平阐明MC-LR的毒性以及致毒机理提供重要的理论依据.     

Single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay): its importance in human biology

The estimation of genetic instability by direct extent of DNA damage and repair is an important aspect of studies on mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, aging and evolution. Different methods have been introduced from time to time in an effort to meet this need. Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay is a new, simple and sensitive method of evaluating DNA damage and repair at individual cell level. This assay can be performed on extremely small number of cells and results can be obtained within a relatively short time. The SCGE assay has the potential to play an important role not only in the understanding of some of the fundamental aspects of human biology but also can be helpful in many practical ways. For reprint requests.     

DNA damage and integrity of UV-induced DNA repair in lymphocytes of smokers analysed by the comet assay

DNA damage was assessed in smoker lymphocytes by subjecting them to the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay. In addition to the appearance of comet tails, smoker cells exhibited enlarged nuclei when analysed by the comet assay. On comparing basal DNA damage among smokers and a non-smoking control group, smoker lymphocytes showed higher basal DNA damage (smokers, 36.25±8.45 μm; non-smokers, 21.6±2.06 μm). A significant difference in DNA migration lengths was observed between the two groups at 10 min after UV exposure (smokers, 65.5±20.34 μm; non-smokers, 79.2±11.59 μm), but no significant differences were seen at 30 min after UV exposure (smokers, 21.13±10.73 μm; non-smokers, (27.2±4.13 μm). The study thus implies that cigarette smoking perhaps interferes with the incision steps of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) process. There appeared be no correlation between the frequency of smoking and DNA damage or the capacity of the cells to repair UV-induced DNA damage that suggests inherited host factors may be responsible for the inter-individual differences in DNA repair capacities. The study also suggests monitoring NER following UV insult using the SCGE assay is a sensitive and simple method to assess DNA damage and integrity of DNA repair in human cells exposed to chemical mutagens.     

Response to challenging dose of X-rays as a predictive assay for molecular epidemiology

Human biomonitoring, as a tool to identify health risk from environmental exposures, has gained increasing interest especially in the areas of cancer risk assessment and response to therapy. Chromosome aberrations resulting from direct DNA breakage or from inhibition of DNA repair or synthesis, as measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes, have been used successfully in the assessment of environmental health. Susceptibility to the induction of genotoxicity has been evaluated by the use of an in vitro challenge dose of UV or X-rays. In this report, DNA damage was analyzed with the use of single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay in healthy donors and cancer patients. Studies have shown a good correlation between DNA damage induced in vivo or in vitro and cytogenetic measures. Results from studies on susceptibilities and repair competence in 475 controls, exposed workers and cancer patients are discussed. The possible effects of exposures and influence of the diet and other confounding factors are shown. The prospective use of a challenging dose of radiation combined with the SCGE assay as a predictive assay is suggested and the limitations are discussed.     

Nature of DNA lesions induced in human hepatoma cells, human colonic cells and human embryonic lung fibroblasts by the antiretroviral drug 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine

This study tried to clarify the question if nuclear genotoxicity played a role in 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) toxicity. We investigated cytotoxic and DNA-damaging effects of AZT on human hepatoma HepG2 and human colonic CaCo-2 cells as well as on human diploid lung fibroblasts HEL. The amount of induced DNA damage was measured by standard alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). The nature of induced DNA lesions was evaluated (1) by modified SCGE, which includes treatment of lysed cells with DNA repair enzymes Endo III and Fpg and enables to recognize oxidized bases of DNA, and (2) by SCGE processed in parallel at pH 13.0 (standard technique) and pH 12.1, which enables to recognize alkali labile DNA lesions and direct DNA strand breaks. Cytotoxicity of AZT was evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion technique. Our findings showed that 3-h treatment of cells with AZT decreased the viability of all cell lines studied. SCGE performed in the presence of DNA repair enzymes proved that AZT induced oxidative lesions to DNA in all cell types. In hepatoma HepG2 cells and embryonic lung fibroblasts HEL the majority of AZT-induced DNA strand breaks were pH-independent, i.e. they were identified at both pH values (12.1 and 13.0). These DNA lesions represented direct DNA breaks. In colonic Caco-2 cells DNA lesions were converted to DNA strand breaks particularly under strong alkaline conditions (pH>13.0), which is characteristic for alkali-labile sites of DNA. DNA strand break rejoining was investigated by the standard comet assay technique during 48 h of post-AZT-treatment in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells. The kinetics of DNA rejoining, considered an indicator of DNA repair, revealed that AZT-induced DNA breaks were repaired in both cell types slowly, though HepG2 cells seemed to be more repair proficient with respect to AZT-induced DNA lesions.     

DNA damage and integrity of UV-induced DNA repair in lymphocytes of smokers analysed by the comet assay

DNA damage was assessed in smoker lymphocytes by subjecting them to the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay. In addition to the appearance of comet tails, smoker cells exhibited enlarged nuclei when analysed by the comet assay. On comparing basal DNA damage among smokers and a non-smoking control group, smoker lymphocytes showed higher basal DNA damage (smokers, 36.25+/-8.45 microm; non-smokers, 21.6+/-2.06 microm). A significant difference in DNA migration lengths was observed between the two groups at 10 min after UV exposure (smokers, 65.5+/-20.34 microm; non-smokers, 79.2+/-11.59 microm), but no significant differences were seen at 30 min after UV exposure (smokers, 21.13+/-10.73 microm; non-smokers, (27.2+/-4.13 microm). The study thus implies that cigarette smoking perhaps interferes with the incision steps of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) process. There appeared be no correlation between the frequency of smoking and DNA damage or the capacity of the cells to repair UV-induced DNA damage that suggests inherited host factors may be responsible for the inter-individual differences in DNA repair capacities. The study also suggests monitoring NER following UV insult using the SCGE assay is a sensitive and simple method to assess DNA damage and integrity of DNA repair in human cells exposed to chemical mutagens.     

Single cell gel electrophoresis assay: a new technique for human biomonitoring studies

Human biomonitoring using the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or comet assay is a novel approach for the assessment of genetic damage in exposed populations. This assay enables the detection of various forms of DNA damage in individual cells with ease and speed and is, therefore, well suited to the analysis of a large group in a population. Here, application of SCGE assay in the identification of dietary protective factors, in clinical studies and in monitoring the risk of DNA damage resulting from occupational, environmental or lifestyle exposures is reviewed. Also, the comparative sensitivity of SCGE assay and conventional cytogenetic tests to detect genetic damage is discussed. Finally, strengths and shortcomings of the SCGE assay are addressed.     

Evidence that hydrogen sulfide is a genotoxic agent

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) produced by commensal sulfate-reducing bacteria, which are often members of normal colonic microbiota, represents an environmental insult to the intestinal epithelium potentially contributing to chronic intestinal disorders that are dependent on gene-environment interactions. For example, epidemiologic studies reveal either persistent sulfate-reducing bacteria colonization or H2S in the gut or feces of patients suffering from ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer. However, a mechanistic model that explains the connection between H2S and ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer development has not been completely formulated. In this study, we examined the chronic cytotoxicity of sulfide using a microplate assay and genotoxicity using the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE; comet assay) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and HT29-Cl.16E cells. Sulfide showed chronic cytotoxicity in CHO cells with a %C1/2 of 368.57 micromol/L. Sulfide was not genotoxic in the standard SCGE assay. However, in a modified SCGE assay in which DNA repair was inhibited, a marked genotoxic effect was observed. A sulfide concentration as low as 250 micromol/L (similar to that found in human colon) caused significant genomic DNA damage. The HT29-Cl.16E colonocyte cell line also exhibited increased genomic DNA damage as a function of Na2S concentration when DNA repair was inhibited, although these cells were less sensitive to sulfide than CHO cells. These data indicate that given a predisposing genetic background that compromises DNA repair, H2S may lead to genomic instability or the cumulative mutations found in adenomatous polyps leading to colorectal cancer.     

DNA damaging effects of carbofuran and its main metabolites on mice by micronucleus test and single cell gel electrophoresis

The DNA damaging effects of the carbamate pesticide carbofuran and its four metabolites (carbofuranphenol, 3-ketocarbofuran, 3-hydrocarbofuran and nitrosocarbofuran) on mice were evaluated by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay and micronucleus test. KM mice were exposed to test compounds with different doses of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4mg/kg through intraperitoneal injection two times with an internal of 24 h, and then killed by cervical dislocation 6 h after the second injection. In SCGE assay, isolated mice peripheral blood lymphocytes were employed to determine DNA damaging degree after a 1 h treatment by test compounds and a following electrophoresis. Carbofuran and carbofuranphenol showed negative results in both test and had no obvious toxicity. 3-hydrocarbofuran and nitrosocarbofuran were positive.3-ketocarbofuran could not induce micronucleus formation but caused significant DNA migration in SCGE test. These tests revealed that 3-ketocarbofuran, 3-hydrocarbofuran and nitrosocarbofuran are potential mutagesis and further research is needed.     

Optimization of single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) for quantitative analysis of neuronal DNA damage

Neuronal death can be induced by DNA-damaging agents and occurs by apoptosis involving a specific signal-transduction pathway. However, to our knowledge, methods for the quantitative determination of DNA damage in individual neurons have not yet been described. Here we optimize the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or "comet"-assay to measure DNA damage within individual neurons growing in dissociated cell culture. In addition, we have written a macro for the NIH Image program to determine the tail moment of individual comets. We have calibrated this method using gamma-irradiated (0-16 Gy) cerebral cortical neurons from the rat central nervous system. Neuronal DNA damage (in the form of DNA strand breaks) occurs in a linear, dose-dependent manner, which can be quantitatively determined in vitro using the SCGE assay. These data demonstrate that the SCGE assay is an effective method to measure DNA damage in individual neurons and may be highly useful for the study of neuronal DNA damage formation, repair and apoptosis.     

Occupational exposure to mercury vapour on genotoxicity and DNA repair

We have conducted a population study to investigate whether current occupational exposure to mercury can cause genotoxicity and can affect DNA repair efficiency. Blood samples from 25 exposed workers and 50 matched controls were investigated for the expression of genotoxicity. The data indicate that mercury exposure did not cause any significant differences between the workers and controls in the baseline levels of DNA strand breaks (as measured by the alkaline version of the single cell gel electrophoresis [SCGE] assay) or sister chromatid exchanges (SCE). However, the exposure produced elevated average DNA tails length in the SCGE assay and frequency of chromosome aberrations. In the studies, isolated lymphocytes were exposed to 6J/m2 UV-C light or 2 Gy dose of X-rays in a challenge assay and repair of the induced DNA damage was evaluated using the SCGE assay. Results from the UV-light challenge assay showed no difference between the workers and controls in the expression of DNA strand breaks after exposure followed by incubation in the absence or presence of the cellular mitogen (phytohemagglutinin, PHA). No difference in DNA strand breaks between the workers and controls was seen immediately after the X-ray challenge, either. However, significant differences were observed in cells that were incubated for 2h with and without phytohemagglutinin. Data from the X-rays challenge assay were further used to calculate indices that indicate DNA repair efficiency. Results show that the repair efficiencies for the workers (69.7% and 83.9% in un-stimulated and stimulated lymphocytes, respectively) were significantly lower than that of matched controls (85.7% and 90.4%, respectively). In addition, the repair efficiency showed a consistent and significant decrease with the duration of occupational exposure to mercury (from 75.7% for <10 years employment, to 65.1% for 11-20 years and to 64.1% for 21-35 years) associated with increase of cytogenetic damage. Our study suggests that the occupational exposure to mercury did not cause a direct genotoxicity but caused significant deficiency in DNA repair. Our observations are consistent with previous studies using the standard chromosome aberration assay to show that exposure to hazardous environmental agents can cause deficiency in DNA repair. Therefore, these affected individuals may have exposure-related increase of health risk from continued exposure and in combination with exposure to other genotoxic agents.