Genotoxic effects of sodium arsenite on human cells. |
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Authors: | A N Jha M Noditi R Nilsson A T Natarajan |
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Institution: | Department of Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis, State University of Leiden, Netherlands. |
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Abstract: | The effects of sodium arsenite (SA) were studied either alone or in combination with X-rays in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and with short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation in primary human fibroblast culture systems. It was found that SA (i) inhibited the cell cycle progression of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-responsive lymphocytes, (ii) induced chromatid-type aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) as a function of concentration and (iii) potentiated the X-ray- and UV-induced chromosomal damage. Our results suggest that SA interferes with the DNA repair process, presumably by inhibiting the ligase activity. This accounted for an increase in the DNA replication-dependent processes, chromatid aberrations and SCEs and synergistic enhancement of the X-ray- and UV-induced chromosomal damage. This ability of arsenite may be responsible for its comutagenic properties with different types of mutagens and hence its carcinogenicity. |
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