Endogenously generated DNA nucleobase modifications source, and significance as possible biomarkers of malignant transformation risk, and role in anticancer therapy

The DNA of all living cells undergoes continuous structural and chemical alteration, which may be derived from exogenous sources, or endogenous, metabolic pathways, such as cellular respiration, replication and DNA demethylation. It has been estimated that approximately 70,000 DNA lesions may be generated per day in a single cell, and this has been linked to a wide variety of diseases, including cancer. However, it is puzzling why potentially mutagenic DNA modifications, occurring at a similar level in different organs/tissue, may lead to organ/tissue specific cancers, or indeed non-malignant disease – what is the basis for this differential response? We suggest that it is perhaps the precise location of damage, within the genome, that is a key factor. Finally, we draw attention to the requirement for reliable methods for identification and quantification of DNA adducts/modifications, and stress the need for these assays to be fully validated. Once these prerequisites are satisfied, DNA modification measurements, may be helpful as a clinical parameter for treatment monitoring, risk group identification and development of prevention strategies

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2\u27-deoxyguanosine concentrations in various human body fluids: implications for their measurement and interpretation

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydro-2\u27-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) is the most investigated product of oxidatively damaged DNA lesion that has been associated with the development of aging, cancer and some degenerative diseases. Here, we present the first liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method that enables the simultaneous measurement of its repair products in plasma and saliva, namely 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) and 8-oxodGuo. Using this method, we investigated the underlying transport mechanism of the repair products of oxidatively damaged DNA between cellular compartments and biological matrices. Plasma, saliva and urine samples were collected concurrently from 57 healthy subjects. Various deproteinization methods were evaluated, and the precipitants acetonitrile and sodium hydroxide-methanol were, respectively, selected for plasma and saliva samples due to their effect on recovery efficiencies and chromatography. The mean baseline concentrations of 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in plasma were demonstrated to be 0.21 and 0.016 ng/mL, respectively, while in saliva they were 0.85 and 0.010 ng/mL, respectively. A relatively high concentration of 8-oxoGua was found in saliva with a concentration factor (CF, concentration ratio of saliva to plasma) of 4 as compared to that of 8-oxodGuo (CF: 0.6), implying that 8-oxoGua in plasma may be actively transported to saliva, whereas 8-oxodGuo was most dependent on a passive diffusion. Good correlations between urine and plasma concentrations were observed for 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo, suggesting that blood was a suitable matrix in addition to urine. Significant correlation between 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in urine was only observed when the concentrations were not corrected for urinary creatinine, raising the issue of applicability of urinary creatinine to adjust 8-oxoGua concentrations

Towards a comprehensive view of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine: Highlighting the intertwined roles of DNA damage and epigenetics in genomic instability

8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), a major product of DNA oxidation, is a pre-mutagenic lesion which is prone to mispair, if left unrepaired, with 2'-deoxyadenosine during DNA replication. While unrepaired or incompletely repaired 8-oxodG has classically been associated with genome instability and cancer, it has recently been reported to have a role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Despite the growing collection of genome-wide 8-oxodG mapping studies that have been used to provide new insight on the functional nature of 8-oxodG within the genome, a comprehensive view that brings together the epigenetic and the mutagenic nature of the 8-oxodG is still lacking. To help address this gap, this review aims to provide (i) a description of the state-of-the-art knowledge on both the mutagenic and epigenetic roles of 8-oxodG; (ii) putative molecular models through which the 8-oxodG can cause genome instability; (iii) a possible molecular model on how 8-oxodG, acting as an epigenetic signal, could cause the translocations and deletions which are associated with cancer

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2\u27-deoxyguanosine concentrations in various human body fluids: implications for their measurement and interpretation

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydro-2\u27-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) is the most investigated product of oxidatively damaged DNA lesion that has been associated with the development of aging, cancer and some degenerative diseases. Here, we present the first liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method that enables the simultaneous measurement of its repair products in plasma and saliva, namely 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) and 8-oxodGuo. Using this method, we investigated the underlying transport mechanism of the repair products of oxidatively damaged DNA between cellular compartments and biological matrices. Plasma, saliva and urine samples were collected concurrently from 57 healthy subjects. Various deproteinization methods were evaluated, and the precipitants acetonitrile and sodium hydroxide-methanol were, respectively, selected for plasma and saliva samples due to their effect on recovery efficiencies and chromatography. The mean baseline concentrations of 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in plasma were demonstrated to be 0.21 and 0.016 ng/mL, respectively, while in saliva they were 0.85 and 0.010 ng/mL, respectively. A relatively high concentration of 8-oxoGua was found in saliva with a concentration factor (CF, concentration ratio of saliva to plasma) of 4 as compared to that of 8-oxodGuo (CF: 0.6), implying that 8-oxoGua in plasma may be actively transported to saliva, whereas 8-oxodGuo was most dependent on a passive diffusion. Good correlations between urine and plasma concentrations were observed for 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo, suggesting that blood was a suitable matrix in addition to urine. Significant correlation between 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in urine was only observed when the concentrations were not corrected for urinary creatinine, raising the issue of applicability of urinary creatinine to adjust 8-oxoGua concentrations

An Investigation Of A Method Of Preparation Of Boron Trifluoride From Colemanite (2CaO-3B2O3-5H2O) II: An Infrared Study

No abstract available

Direct and inverse measurement of thin films magnetostriction

Two techniques of measurements of thin film magnetostriction are compared: direct, when changes of the substrate curvature caused by the film magnetization are controlled, and inverse ("indirect"), when the modification of the magnetic anisotropy induced by the substrate deformation (usually bending) is measured. We demonstrate how both the elastic strength of the substrate and the effective magneto-mechanical coupling between the substrate deformation and magnetic anisotropy of the film depend on different conditions of bending. Equations to be used for magnetostriction value determination in typical cases are given and critical parameters for the corresponding approximations are identified.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, submitted to JMM

Biologically relevant oxidants and terminology, classification and nomenclature of oxidatively generated damage to nucleobases and 2-deoxyribose in nucleic acids

A broad scientific community is involved in investigations aimed at delineating the mechanisms of formation and cellular processing of oxidatively generated damage to nucleic acids. Perhaps as a consequence of this breadth of research expertise, there are nomenclature problems for several of the oxidized bases including 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua), a ubiquitous marker of almost every type of oxidative stress in cells. Efforts to standardize the nomenclature and abbreviations of the main DNA degradation products that arise from oxidative pathways are reported. Information is also provided on the main oxidative radicals, non-radical oxygen species, one-electron agents and enzymes involved in DNA degradation pathways as well in their targets and reactivity. A brief classification of oxidatively generated damage to DNA that may involve single modifications, tandem base modifications, intrastrand and interstrand cross-links together with DNA-protein cross-links and base adducts arising from the addition of lipid peroxides breakdown products is also included

Protocol for a multi-centre pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial with a nested qualitative study: rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair (the RaCeR study)

Background Shoulder pain is a highly prevalent complaint and disorders of the rotator cuff, including tears, are thought to be the most common cause. The number of operations to repair the torn rotator cuff has risen significantly in recent years. While surgical techniques have progressed, becoming less invasive and more secure, rehabilitation programmes have remained largely like those initially developed when surgical techniques were less advanced and more invasive. Uncertainty remains in relation to the length of post-surgical immobilisation and the amount of early load permitted at the repair site. In the context of this uncertainty, current practice is to follow a generally cautious approach, including long periods of immobilisation in a sling and avoidance of early active rehabilitation. Systematic review evidence suggests early mobilisation might be beneficial but further high-quality studies are required to evaluate this. Methods/design RaCeR is a two-arm, multi-centre pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial with nested qualitative interviews. A total of 76 patients with non-traumatic rotator cuff tears who are scheduled to have a surgical repair will be recruited from up to five UK NHS hospitals and randomly allocated to either early patient-directed rehabilitation or standard rehabilitation that incorporates sling immobilisation. RaCeR will assess the feasibility of a future, substantive, multi-centre randomised controlled trial to test the hypothesis that, compared to standard rehabilitation incorporating sling immobilisation, early patient-directed rehabilitation is both more clinically effective and more cost-effective. In addition, a sample of patients and clinicians will be interviewed to understand the acceptability of the interventions and the barriers and enablers to adherence to the interventions. Discussion Research to date suggests that there is the possibility of reducing the patient burden associated with post-operative immobilisation following surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff and improve clinical outcomes. There is a clear need for a high-quality, adequately powered, randomised trial to better inform clinical practice. Prior to a large-scale trial, we first need to undertake a pilot and feasibility trial to address current uncertainties about recruitment, retention and barriers to adherence to the interventions, particularly in relation to whether patients will be willing to begin moving their arm early after their operation

A High-Throughput Comet Assay Approach for Assessing Cellular DNA Damage

open access articleCells are continually exposed to agents arising from the internal and external environments, which may damage DNA. This damage can cause aberrant cell function, and therefore DNA damage may play a critical role in the development of, conceivably, all major human diseases, e.g., cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease, and aging. Single-cell gel electrophoresis (i.e., the comet assay) is one of the most common and sensitive methods to study the formation and repair of a wide range of types of DNA damage (e.g., single- and double-strand breaks, alkali-labile sites, DNA-DNA crosslinks, and, in combination with certain repair enzymes, oxidized purines, and pyrimidines), in both in vitro and in vivo systems. However, the low sample throughput of the conventional assay and laborious sample workup are limiting factors to its widest possible application. With the "scoring" of comets increasingly automated, the limitation is now the ability to process significant numbers of comet slides. Here, a high-throughput (HTP) variant of the comet assay (HTP comet assay) has been developed, which significantly increases the number of samples analyzed, decreases assay run time, the number of individual slide manipulations, reagent requirements, and risk of physical damage to the gels. Furthermore, the footprint of the electrophoresis tank is significantly decreased due to the vertical orientation of the slides and integral cooling. Also reported here is a novel approach to chilling comet assay slides, which conveniently and efficiently facilitates the solidification of the comet gels. Here, the application of these devices to representative comet assay methods has been described. These simple innovations greatly support the use of the comet assay and its application to areas of study such as exposure biology, ecotoxicology, biomonitoring, toxicity screening/testing, together with understanding pathogenesis

Urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2\u27-deoxyguanosine analysis by an improved ELISA: does assay standardization reduce inter-laboratory variability?

ELISA is commonly used for the detection of urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2\u27-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), a marker of whole body oxidative stress. However, the method has been criticized for high inter-laboratory variability and poor agreement with chromatographic techniques. We performed an inter-laboratory comparison of 8-oxodG assessed in 30 urine samples and a urine spiked with four different concentrations of 8-oxodG by ELISA using standardized experimental conditions, including: sample pre-treatment with solid-phase extraction (SPE), performing analysis using a commercial kit from a single manufacturer and strict temperature control during the assay. We further compared the ELISA results with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and performed tentative identification of compounds that may contribute to the discrepancy between both methods. For all but one participating laboratory (Data 1) we observed consistent ELISA results lying mostly within 1SD of the mean 8-oxodG concentration. Mean 8-oxodG levels assessed by ELISA correlated with the data obtained by HPLC-MS/MS (R=0.679, p\u3c0.001). The correlation improved when Data 1 were excluded from the analysis (R=0.749, p\u3c0.001). We identified three outlying urine samples; one with an ELISA 8-oxodG concentration lower, and two with 8-oxodG levels higher, than those measured by HPLC-MS/MS. Omitting these samples further improved inter-methodology agreement (R=0.869, p\u3c0.001). In the outliers with high 8-oxodG estimates various aromatic and heterocyclic compounds were tentatively identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Application of authentic standards revealed the presence of saccharides, including d-glucose and d-galactose as putative interfering substances. In summary, assay standardization improved ELISA inter-laboratory agreement, although some variability is still observed. There are still compounds contributing to overestimation of 8-oxodG by ELISA, but only in some urine samples. Thus, despite significant improvement, ELISA still should not be considered a robust alternative to chromatographic techniques