DNA-damage induction by eight metal compounds in TK6 human lymphoblastoid cells: results obtained with the alkaline Comet assay.

Metal compounds are long-lived and can react with different macromolecules, producing a wide range of biological effects, including DNA damage. Since their reactivity is associated with their chemical structure, it is important to obtain information on more than one compound from the same metal. In this study, the DNA-damaging potential of two mercury compounds (mercury chloride and methyl mercury chloride), two nickel compounds (nickel chloride and potassium hexafluoronickelate), two palladium compounds (ammonium tetrachloropalladate and ammonium hexachloropalladate), and two tellurium compounds (sodium tellurite and sodium tellurate) was evaluated in human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells by use of the alkaline version of the Comet assay.

In vitro DNA damage by arsenic compounds in a human lymphoblastoid cell line (TK6) assessed by the alkaline Comet assay.

Arsenic is classified as a carcinogen for humans, but as a possible genotoxic agent. Thus, taking into account the controversial data about how arsenic compounds are able to induce genetic damage, we investigated the possible genotoxic activity of different arsenic compounds in the TK6 human lymphoblastoid cell line using the alkaline Comet assay. Eight different inorganic and organic arsenical compounds have been selected as follows: three inorganic (sodium arsenite, sodium arsenate and sodium hexafluorarsenate) and five organic (monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acids, arsenobetaine, tetramethylarsonium iodide and tetraphenylarsonium chloride).

Antigenotoxic properties of selenium compounds on potassium dichromate and hydrogen peroxide.

Selenium is an environmental metal that occurs ubiquitously and is produced throughout the world for various industrial activities. Selenium has been reported to have anticarcinogenic and preventive effects in clinical and epidemiological studies. Selenium supplements can inhibit chemically-induced tumours.

Spontaneous and induced genetic damage in T lymphocyte subsets evaluated by the Comet assay.

High inter- and intra-individual variability was reported in the level of DNA damage, both spontaneous and induced, when peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes were used to perform the Comet assay. In order to find out the underlying causes for such variability, different subsets of T lymphocytes were isolated by immunomagnetic cell sorting. The level of DNA damage was evaluated with the alkaline version of the Comet assay by using three different parameters: tail moment, tail length and amount of DNA in the tail (%).