DNA damage in Brazilian newborns admitted to NICUs - association with maternal and neonatal outcomes

• Published in: Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis 2022-09, Vol.881, p.503521-503521, Article 503521
• Main Authors: Tavella, Ronan Adler, Vignol, Flavia Saraçol, Favero, Rafael Frizzo, da Silveira, Tatiane Britto, dos Santos, Marina, Garcia, Edariane Menestrino, da Silva Júnior, Flavio Manoel Rodrigues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Associated factors; Biomonitoring; Brazil; Genotoxicity; Neonatal intensive care unit; Neonates
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503521

Growing evidence suggests that early-life events can predispose the newborn to a variety of health problems in postnatal life, which can lead to the need for specialized care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These events may be caused by factors intrinsically related to the mother (i.e., lifestyle, socioeconomic conditions), and this interplay between maternal exposure factors and negative outcomes in the neonate can be efficiently monitored through effect biomarkers, such as DNA damage. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the DNA damage and the maternal and neonatal factors associated with the genotoxic outcome using newborns admitted to the NICUs of three hospitals located in the extreme south of Brazil. A total of 81 newborns were evaluated. DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay, and according to the result obtained for the evaluated parameters (tail length, % of tail DNA and tail moment). The investigation of associated factors was performed using the bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression analysis. As a result, we observed that the tail moment was the most sensitive parameter to detect differences between variables and genetic outcomes in newborns from NICU. Birthweight and the presence of respiratory diseases were associated with greater risks of DNA damage. Furthermore, the variables family income, sex, head circumference, preterm, birthweight and the presence of respiratory and/or infectious diseases showed a significant statistical difference regarding the groups with and without DNA damage (based on the median of the parameter). While the results of this study will serve as the basis for investigating genetic damage, we encourage that similar studies should be conducted elsewhere in order to confirm these and other outcomes as associated factors with DNA damage in newborns. •The first genotoxic study with newborns from NICU, regardless of the admission reason.•Birthweight and respiratory diseases were associated with greater risks of DNA damage.•Tail moment was the most sensitive parameter for the analysis.•Out of 8, only 1 maternal variable had a significant difference with the outcome.•Out of 9, 6 variables of the newborn had a significant difference with the outcome.