Inorganic Arsenics Have Different Actions in the Induction of DNA Strand Breaks in Primary Cultured Human Skin Fibroblasts / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the action of inorganic arsenic in the induction of DNA strand breaks in primary cultured human skin fibroblasts. Methods Sodium arsenate and sodium arsenite were used as test inorganic arsenics. DNA strand breaks were assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCGE). Results Arsenate at 1～10 ?mol/L dose_dependently induced DNA strand breaks in cells. Arsenate at lower concentrations induced mainly degree I DNA strand breaks, while the proportion of cells with degree Ⅱ DNA strand breaks increased to 50% when treated with 10?mol/L arsenate,but no cells with degree ⅢDNA strand breaks were observed.Cells treated with 1?mol/L arsenite showed no significant increase in DNA strand breaks. At the concentration of 10?mol/L, however, arsenite induced DNA strand breaks with different degrees, and the apoptotic type DNA strand breaks were the major type. Conclusion Sodium arsenate mainly induced general type DNA strand breaks and sodium arsenite induced apoptotic type,beside general type of DNA strand breaks in primary cultured human skin fibroblasts. This could be explained by their different reaction modes with DNA, and further studies were needed.