Interaction of mutagens in binary mixtures using the alkaline comet assay in human lymphocytes

Abstract

Introduction. Mutagens contained in complex mixtures can present synergistic interactions, eitheradditive or antagonistic. Therefore, development of experimental approaches is necessary to elucidatewhich is the responsible agent for the effect in the mixtures.

Objective. An experimental design was developed that allowed an understanding of the processesbetween the compounds of complex mixtures.

Materials and methods. Human lymphocytes were exposed to binary mixtures of the mutagens B[a]P,DMBA, Trp-P-1 and MX for 1 hour with or without S9. Viability was assessed with trypan blue dye andthe genotoxicity by the comet assay.

Results. All of the hydrocarbon showed an effect with furanone. With and without S9, the most toxicinteractions were observed between hydrocarbons. Synergistic interaction was observed without S9between B [a] P and Trp-P-1 and between DMBA and Trp-P-1 with metabolic activity. Without S9antagonistic interaction was observed only between Trp-P-1+DMBA, and with S9 between Trp-P-1+MX and MX+DMBA. It observed an increase dose dependent in tail length. Half the cultures showedgenotoxic damage and increased cell damage. For each mixture, minimum concentrations weredetermined at which adverse effects are observed; for some only the maximum concentration wasdetermined at which no adverse effects are observed.

Conclusion. The processes between mutagens present in a mixture have become better understood,and the results validated an analytical model that determined which component had an effect onanother. The results also showed that the type of compounds in the mixture determined whether or nota risk threshold was present.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v32i3.739