POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON-DNA AND PROTEIN ADDUCTS IN COAL-TAR TREATED PATIENTS AND CONTROLS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE GENOTYPE

Coal tar treated psoriasis patients were used as a model population to evaluate a panel of immunoassays for monitoring exposure to benzo[a]p yrene (BP) and related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The ass ays included measurement of PAH diol epoxide-DNA adducts in white bloo d cells by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with fluorescence endpoint detection, PAH-albumin adducts by competitive EL ISA with color endpoint detection and serum levels of antibodies recog nizing BP diol epoxide-DNA adducts by noncompetitive color ELISA. PAH- DNA adducts by ELISA were elevated in patients (mean 6.77 +/- 12.05/10 (8)) compared to controls (4.90 +/- 8.81/10(8), p = 0.12). There was n o difference in PAH-albumin adducts between patients (mean 0.61 +/- 0. 31 fmol/mu g) and controls (0.63 +/- 0.30 fmol/mu g). Glutathione S-tr ansferase M1 genotype was also determined but no relationship was foun d between presence of the gene and either DNA or protein adduct levels . About 30% of both patients and controls had measurable titer of anti bodies recognizing BPDE-I-DNA adducts. Measurement of white blood cell DNA adducts by ELISA was the most sensitive method for detecting PAH exposure in coal tar-treated psoriasis patients.