Mechanisms of DNA Damage Induced by Hexavalent Chromium Compounds / 环境与健康杂志

Hexavalent chromium[Cr(VI)] is a well-know environmental toxicant which can cause many types of DNA damage. However Cr(VI) does not react directly with DNA itself, it penetrates the cell membrane through the nonspecific phosphate/sulphate anion channel and undergoes a reductive metabolism to a series of lower oxidation state including quinquevalent chromium[Cr(V)], quadrivalent chromium[Cr(IV)] and trivalent chromium[Cr(III)]. Cr(III) can form variety of Cr-DNA adducts; moreover oxidative Cr(V) and free radicals generated during the reduction cause DNA oxidative damage. The process of how Cr(VI) induce DNA damage after entered the cells and types of DNA lesions were briefly reviewed in the present article.