Endogenous and background DNA adducts by methylating and 2-hydroxyethylating agents

Detection of 7-alkylguanine DNA adducts is useful to assess human exposure to and the resulting DNA damage caused by simple alkylating agents. The bac kground 7-methylguanine (7-MG) and 7-hydroxyethylguanine (7-HEG) adduct lev els were determined in human and rat tissues, using thin-layer chromatograp hy (TLC) combined with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addit ion, these two adduct levels were also compared in various tissues between smokers and non-smokers. The results demonstrated that the background level of 7-alkylguanine adducts in WBC and lung tissues of non-smokers was 2.9 a nd 4.0 adducts/10(7) nucleotides, respectively. In smokers with lung cancer s 7-MG adduct level in lung samples (6.3 +/- 1.9 adducts/10(7) nucleotides) and in bronchus samples (6.1 +/- 1.5 adducts/10(7) nucleotides) was signif icantly higher than that in WBC samples (3.3 +/- 0.9 adducts/10(7) nucleoti des). 7-HEG adduct levels obtained from the same individuals were 0.8 +/- 0 .3 in lung, 1.0 +/- 0.8 in bronchus and 0.6 +/- 0.2 adducts/10(7) nucleotid es in WBC, respectively. Animal studies showed that background levels of 7- MG (2.1-2.5 adducts/10(7) nucleotides) in control rats were approximately 2 -4-fold higher than 7-HEG levels (0.6-0.9 adducts/10(7) nucleotides). After a 3-day exposure to 300 ppm ethene, 7-HEG adducts accumulated to a similar extent in different tissues of rats, with the mean adduct level of 5.6-7.0 in liver, 7.4 in lymphocytes and 5.5 adducts/10(7) nucleotides in kidney. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.