Cigarette smoking related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon—DNA adducts in peripheral mononuclear cells

Abstract

Studies on cigarette smoking related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon—DNA adducts in blood have produced conflicting results. To determine whether a subset of specific white blood cells is a useful marker for monitoring exposure to cigarette smoke, blood was obtained from 63 heavy smokers and 27 non-smokers. Adduct levels were determined by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a polyclonal antiserum recognizing benzo[a]pyrene and structurally related diolepoxide—DNA adducts. Analysis of the lymphocyte plus monocyte fraction from smokers indicated 70% had detectable adducts with a mean of 4.38 ± 4.29 adducts/108 nucleotides, while in non-smokers the corresponding values were 22% and 1.35 ± 0.78/108 (P < 0.001). Plasma cotinine levels differed significantly in smokers (286 ± 90 μg/l) compared to non-smokers (4.4 ± 3.3 μg/l) (P < 0.001). However, cotinine was not correlated with self-reported smoking history in these heavy smokers. Nor were DNA adducts in smokers correlated with cigarettes per day, pack-years and plasma cotinine, indicating large interindividual variation in DNA adduct formation. These data demonstrate lymphocytes plus monocytes from smokers have elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diolepoxide—DNA adduct levels compared to non-smokers.