Genotoxic Effect in Autoimmune Diseases Evaluated by the Micronucleus Test Assay: Our Experience and Literature Review

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:194031. doi: 10.1155/2015/194031. Epub 2015 Aug 3.

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases (AD) are classified into organ-specific, systemic, and mixed; all forms of AD share a high risk for cancer development. In AD a destructive immune response induced by autoreactive lymphocytes is started and continues with the production of autoantibodies against different targets; furthermore apoptosis failure and loss of balance in oxidative stress as a consequence of local or systemic inflammation are common features seen in AD as well. Micronucleus (MN) assay can be performed in order to evaluate loss of genetic material in a clear, accurate, fast, simple, and minimally invasive test. The MN formation in the cytoplasm of cells that have undergone proliferation is a consequence of DNA fragmentation during mitosis and the appearance of small additional nuclei during interphase. The MN test, widely accepted for in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity research, provides a sensitive marker of genomic damage associated to diverse conditions. In here, we present a review of our work and other published papers concerning genotoxic effect in AD, identified by means of the MN assay, with the aim of proposing this tool as a possible early biomarker for genotoxic damage, which is a consequence of disease progression. Additionally this biomarker could be used for follow-up, to asses genome damage associated to therapies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Autoimmune Diseases / genetics*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • DNA Damage / drug effects*
  • DNA Fragmentation / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • Micronucleus Tests*
  • Mitosis / drug effects
  • Mutagens / toxicity
  • Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects

Substances

  • Carcinogens
  • Mutagens