Chromatographic Detection of 8-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxyguanosine in Leukocytes of Asbestos Exposed Workers for Assessing Past and Recent Carcinogen Exposures

• Published in: Diagnostics (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 4; p. 239
• Main Authors: Cellai, Filippo, Bonassi, Stefano, Cristaudo, Alfonso, Bonotti, Alessandra, Neri, Monica, Ceppi, Marcello, Bruzzone, Marco, Milić, Mirta, Munnia, Armelle, Peluso, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21.04.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: 8-oxodG; Age; Asbestos; Biomarkers; Cancer; Chromatography; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA damage; Health care; leukocytes; Males; Mesothelioma; Questionnaires; Statistical analysis; Workers; Italy; asbestos; leukocytes; 8-oxodG
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10040239

Asbestos fibers include a group of silicate minerals that occur in the environment and are widely employed in occupational settings. Asbestos exposure has been associated to various chronic diseases; such as pulmonary fibrosis; mesothelioma; and lung cancer; often characterized by a long period of latency. Underlying mechanisms that are behind the carcinogenic effect of asbestos have not been fully clarified. Therefore; we have conducted an epidemiological study to evaluate the relationship between 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), one of the most reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage; and asbestos exposure in the peripheral blood of residents in Tuscany and Liguria regions; Italy; stratified by occupational exposure to this carcinogen. Levels of 8-oxodG were expressed such as relative adduct labeling (RAL); the frequency of 8-oxodG per 105 deoxyguanosine was significantly higher among exposed workers with respect to the controls; i.e., 3.0 ± 0.2 Standard Error (SE) in asbestos workers versus a value of 1.3 ± 0.1 (SE) in unexposed controls (p < 0.001). When the relationship with occupational history was investigated; significant higher levels of 8-oxodG were measured in current and former asbestos workers vs. healthy controls; 3.1 ± 0.3 (SE) and 2.9 ± 0.2 (SE), respectively. After stratification for occupational history; a significant 194% excess of adducts was found in workers with 10 or more years of past asbestos exposure (p < 0.001). 8-oxodG can be used for medical surveillance programs of cohorts of workers with past and recent exposures to carcinogens for the identification of subjects requiring a more intense clinical surveillance.