Polymorphism of genes for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and hemochromatosis (HFE) in residents of radiocontaminated regions varying in chromosome aberration frequency

• Published in: Biophysics (Oxford) 2010-12, Vol.55 (6), p.1076-1084
• Main Authors: Ivanova, T. I., Kondrashova, T. V., Krikunova, L. I., Smirnova, I. A., Shentereva, N. I., Sychenkova, N. I., Rykova, E. V., Zharikova, I. A., Khorokhorina, V. A., Ryabchenko, N. I., Zamulaeva, I. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and Medical Physics; Biophysics; Contamination; Genes; Genotype & phenotype; Nuclear accidents & safety; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymorphism; Radiation; Radiobiology and Radioecology
• ISSN: 0006-3509; 1555-6654
• DOI: 10.1134/S0006350910060333

The association between polymorphisms in the COMT and HFE genes, involved in oxidative stress control, on the one hand, and chromosome aberration frequency in lymphocytes, on the other hand, is analyzed in 278 women residents of radiocontaminated sites in Central Russia: the town of Uzlovaya (171 kBq/m 2 for 137 Cs) in Tula oblast and Klintsovskii raion in Bryansk oblast (322 kBq/m 2 ). The subjects of the study are genotyped by PCR followed by cleavage with appropriate restriction endonucleases and electrophoresis. The subjects are divided into three subgroups according to individual aberration frequencies: 0–2%, 3-4%, and ≥5%. The frequencies of genotypes for COMT and HFE in the subgroups show statistically significant differences. A high chromosome aberration frequency (≥5%) is associated with the HH homozygous genotype for the G1974A ( H/L ) polymorphism in COMT and CC for C187G in HFE . The heterozygous genotypes CG for C187G in HFE and HL for G1974A ( H/L ) in COMT are negatively associated with the chromosome aberration frequency, thus being resistance factors.