Quantitative trait loci associated with susceptibility to therapy-related acute murine promyelocytic leukemia in hCG-PML/RARA transgenic mice.

Therapy-related acute myelogenous leukemia (t-AML) is an important late adverse effect of alkylator chemotherapy. Susceptibility to t-AML has a genetic component, yet specific genetic variants that influence susceptibility are poorly understood. We analyzed an F(2) intercross (n = 282 mice) between mouse strains resistant or susceptible to t-AML induced by the alkylator ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) to identify genes that regulate t-AML susceptibility.

A high-resolution map of segmental DNA copy number variation in the mouse genome.

Submicroscopic (less than 2 Mb) segmental DNA copy number changes are a recently recognized source of genetic variability between individuals. The biological consequences of copy number variants (CNVs) are largely undefined. In some cases, CNVs that cause gene dosage effects have been implicated in phenotypic variation.

Identification of candidate alkylator-induced cancer susceptibility genes by whole genome scanning in mice.

Secondary malignancies are a serious adverse consequence of alkylator chemotherapy. The risk of developing an alkylator-associated malignancy is influenced by genetic background, although the relevant genetic factors are poorly understood. To screen for novel susceptibility factors, we established a mouse model of alkylator-induced malignancy.

Insertion/deletion polymorphisms in tribal populations of southern India and their possible evolutionary implications.

India has the unique distinction of having perhaps the largest diversities, both biological and cultural. The Nilgiri Hills of southern India, a home for several tribal pockets representing different genetic isolates, provides a genetic wealth to understand human evolution. We have analyzed eight widely distributed polymorphic insertion/deletion loci (AluAPO, AluACE, AluDI, AluPLAT, AluPV92, AluFXIIIB, CD4 del and mtNUC) in 250 unrelated individuals from five tribal populations (Badaga, Irula, Kota, Kurumba, and Toda).

An anticlastogenic in vivo micronucleus assay for tea.

Common use of antimutagens and anticarcinogens in everyday life is an effective measure for preventing human cancer and genetic diseases. Antioxidant properties of tea have vast potential as protective agents against diverse toxic effects. The present study was aimed to evaluate the role of aqueous clonal tea extracts (green tea, oolong tea and black tea) in modulating the genotoxic damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CP), a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug and a well-known mutagen and clastogen.

Trace metal concentration in scalp hair of occupationally exposed autodrivers.

The concentrations of Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in the scalp hair of professional male autodrivers who are occupationally exposed to the vehicular/industrial pollutants in the industrial city of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The unwashed hair samples when compared with the washed hair showed a significantly higher levels of Cr, Zn and Pb. The correlation coefficient showed a strong mutual dependence on the scalp hair of the exposed individuals and no correlation was found among the trace metals except for Ni-Pb and Ni-Cd.