Evaluation of DNA damage in tobacco associated human buccal cells using comet assay

Authors

  • Shanmugam Mohanapriya
  • Thangadurai Maheswaran
  • Nalliapan Ganapathy
  • Thukanayakanpalayam Ragunathan Yoithappr
  • Janardhanam Dineshshankar
  • Vadivel Ilayaraja
  • Rachel Sarah Vinodhini
  • Renuka Devi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15386/mpr-1692

Keywords:

comet assay, DNA damage, tobacco

Abstract

Aim and objective. To assess the DNA damage in tobacco associated human buccal cells using comet assay.

Methods. The study included 75 study subjects, which were divided into 3 groups on the basis of tobacco usage. Group I - 25 individuals with no history of tobacco usage, Group II - 25 individuals with tobacco usage but without oral lesions and Group III - 25 individuals with tobacco associated oral lesions. Cytological smears collected from these individuals were used to assess the tobacco associated DNA damage by measuring the tail length in the comet assay method.

Results. The average tail length was found to be 1.46 µm in the normal mucosa, 2.86 µm in tobacco users without oral lesions, 3.86 µm in the lesional sites of tobacco users and 3.67 µm in the non-lesional sites of these individuals. Factors like age, gender, duration and different forms of tobacco habit had their own impact on the oral mucosa.

Conclusion. Comet assay helps assess the subclinical genetic changes of oral mucosa even before the clinical manifestations of the precancerous lesions appeared due to tobacco usage. Thus, comet assay may bloom out as a novel adjuvant tool for the prevention of oral cancer in the near future.

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Published

2021-04-29

How to Cite

1.
Mohanapriya S, Maheswaran T, Ganapathy N, Yoithappr TR, Dineshshankar J, Ilayaraja V, Vinodhini RS, Devi R. Evaluation of DNA damage in tobacco associated human buccal cells using comet assay. Med Pharm Rep [Internet]. 2021 Apr. 29 [cited 2025 Oct. 2];94(2):214-9. Available from: https://medpharmareports.com/index.php/mpr/article/view/1692

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Section

Original Research