Rachel Ben-Shlomo1, Uri Shanas. 1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa-Oranim, Tivon 36006, Israel. ekly@research.haifa.ac.il
Abstract
PURPOSE: We tested the genetic diversity in wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) inhabiting the asbestos-polluted area as a model for the long-term mutagenic effect of asbestos. Hazardous effects of deposited asbestos persist in the environment because of low rate of fiber disintegration. The upper layers of the soil in the vicinity of a former asbestos factory are nearly "saturated" with asbestos fibers and dust. Natural populations of mice dwell in this area and are constantly exposed to asbestos fibers. METHODS: We measured the microsatellites genetic diversity of wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) inhabiting the asbestos-polluted area as a model for the long-term mutagenic effect of this environmental toxin. RESULTS: The six tested microsatellites were highly polymorphic, revealing 111 different alleles for the two sampled populations. Effective number of alleles was slightly higher in the polluted population relative to the control population, while observed heterozygosity was lower. The chromatographic profile of the polluted population exhibited a significantly higher number of bands, probably resulting from somatic mutations, in addition to the ordinary microsatellite band profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to asbestos fibers significantly elevates the level of somatic mutations. It also leads to a relatively high level of observed homozygosity, a phenomenon that may be associated with loss of heterozygosity. Based on the mice population, our data suggest elevated health risks for humans living in an asbestos-polluted area.
PURPOSE: We tested the genetic diversity in wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) inhabiting the asbestos-polluted area as a model for the long-term mutagenic effect of asbestos. Hazardous effects of deposited asbestos persist in the environment because of low rate of fiber disintegration. The upper layers of the soil in the vicinity of a former asbestos factory are nearly "saturated" with asbestos fibers and dust. Natural populations of mice dwell in this area and are constantly exposed to asbestos fibers. METHODS: We measured the microsatellites genetic diversity of wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) inhabiting the asbestos-polluted area as a model for the long-term mutagenic effect of this environmental toxin. RESULTS: The six tested microsatellites were highly polymorphic, revealing 111 different alleles for the two sampled populations. Effective number of alleles was slightly higher in the polluted population relative to the control population, while observed heterozygosity was lower. The chromatographic profile of the polluted population exhibited a significantly higher number of bands, probably resulting from somatic mutations, in addition to the ordinary microsatellite band profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to asbestos fibers significantly elevates the level of somatic mutations. It also leads to a relatively high level of observed homozygosity, a phenomenon that may be associated with loss of heterozygosity. Based on the mice population, our data suggest elevated health risks for humans living in an asbestos-polluted area.
Authors: Christopher Greenman; Philip Stephens; Raffaella Smith; Gillian L Dalgliesh; Christopher Hunter; Graham Bignell; Helen Davies; Jon Teague; Adam Butler; Claire Stevens; Sarah Edkins; Sarah O'Meara; Imre Vastrik; Esther E Schmidt; Tim Avis; Syd Barthorpe; Gurpreet Bhamra; Gemma Buck; Bhudipa Choudhury; Jody Clements; Jennifer Cole; Ed Dicks; Simon Forbes; Kris Gray; Kelly Halliday; Rachel Harrison; Katy Hills; Jon Hinton; Andy Jenkinson; David Jones; Andy Menzies; Tatiana Mironenko; Janet Perry; Keiran Raine; Dave Richardson; Rebecca Shepherd; Alexandra Small; Calli Tofts; Jennifer Varian; Tony Webb; Sofie West; Sara Widaa; Andy Yates; Daniel P Cahill; David N Louis; Peter Goldstraw; Andrew G Nicholson; Francis Brasseur; Leendert Looijenga; Barbara L Weber; Yoke-Eng Chiew; Anna DeFazio; Mel F Greaves; Anthony R Green; Peter Campbell; Ewan Birney; Douglas F Easton; Georgia Chenevix-Trench; Min-Han Tan; Sok Kean Khoo; Bin Tean Teh; Siu Tsan Yuen; Suet Yi Leung; Richard Wooster; P Andrew Futreal; Michael R Stratton Journal: Nature Date: 2007-03-08 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: E Kettunen; M Aavikko; P Nymark; S Ruosaari; H Wikman; E Vanhala; K Salmenkivi; R Pirinen; A Karjalainen; E Kuosma; S Anttila Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2009-03-31 Impact factor: 7.640