Micronucleus assay for monitoring the genotoxic effects of arsenic in human populations: A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Publication date: April–June 2019Source: Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, Volume 780Author(s): Ju Dong, Jun-qin Wang, Qin Qian, Guo-chun Li, Dong-qin Yang, Chao JiangAbstractThe micronucleus (MN) assay has been used to determine the potential genotoxic effects in human populations exposed to arsenic. Some of these studies found an increase in MN frequency among exposed individuals, but others found no increase or inconclusive results. Thus, the main purpose of this current study was to investigate whether MN can be used as a biomarker for the arsenic exposure, as well as whether or not the different cell types that have been used to monitor MN frequency differ in their sensitivity to upon arsenic exposure. A systematic literature review was conducted followed by a meta-analysis. The review identified 25 useful studies with data from 3232 exposed individuals (15 studies assaying lymphocytes, 16 assaying buccal cells, and 9 assaying urothelial cells), with 18 studies measuring drinking water exposure, 5 measuring occupational exposure, one measuring coal burning, and one measuring dietary exposure. The meta-analysis indicated that the overall estimates of Mean Ratio (MR, defined as the mean value of the response in the exposed group divided by the mean value of the response in the reference group) were 2.95 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.00 to 4.35), 2.36 (95% CI: 1.77 to 3.15), and 2.82 (95% CI: 1.86 to 4.28) for MN assays conducted with lymphocytes, buccal ...
Source: Mutation Research Reviews in Mutation Research - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research