Association between mitochondrial DNA copy number, blood cell counts, and occupational benzene exposure

作者：Shen Min^*; Zhang Luoping; Bonner Matthew R; Liu Chin San; Li Guilan; Vermeulen Roel; Dosemeci Mustafa; Yin Songnian; Lan Qing

来源：Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 2008, 49(6): 453-457.

DOI：10.1002/em.20402

• benzene
• mitochondrial DNA
• oxidative stress

Benzene is a recognized hematotoxicant and carcinogen that produces genotoxic damage. Benzene metabolites can produce reactive oxidative species. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number may be increased in response to oxidative stress to compensate for damaged mitochondria. We carried out a cross-sectional study of 40 benzene-exposed workers and 40 controls to evaluate the association between benzene exposure and mtDNA copy number. Copy number of mtDNA in leukocyte DNA was determined by real-time PCR. Compared with controls, the copy number of mtDNA increased by 4% and by 15% in workers exposed to <= 10 ppm (n = 20) and >10 ppm (n = 20) benzene, respectively. After adjusting for recent infection, the factor that was significantly correlated with mtDNA, the increase of mtDNA was statistically significant in the high exposed group (P = 0.016) with a significant linear trend (P = 0.024). To our best knowledge, this is the first report that benzene exposure was associated with increased mitochondria DNA copy number. Benzene exposure may induce mtDNA amplification, possibly in response to oxidative stress caused by benzene. The finding needs to be replicated by other studies.

• 出版日期2008-7
• 单位中国疾病预防控制中心