Effects of vitamin E and vitamin B2 on chromate-induced DNA lesions.

The induction of DNA single strand breaks by carcinogenic chromate compounds has been found to be altered by vitamin E and vitamin B2. Pretreatment with vitamin E for 24 h prior to exposure to Na2CrO4 resulted in a decrease of chromate-induced DNA single strand breaks, whereas similar treatment with vitamin B2 enhanced levels of breaks induced by chromate. In contrast, levels of DNA protein crosslinks, the other major lesion induced, were not affected by vitamin E or vitamin B2. The uptake of Na2CrO4 was not affected by pretreatment with these vitamins. The role of vitamins in chromate-induced DNA damages is discussed.