Júlio César Nepomuceno

Detection of micronuclei in peripheral erythrocytes of Cyprinus carpio exposed to metallic mercury.

Cyprinus carpio fish (carp), exposed to elemental or metallic mercury (Hg0) at concentrations of 2.0, 20.0, and 200.0 mg per liter of water, were kept in concrete tanks for 159 days. Ten fish were used for each concentration level. Thirteen samples of peripheral blood were collected from each animal through gill puncture, 12 during the first 90 days of the experiment, and the last one at the end of the experiment. The micronucleus test (MNT) was designed to study dose and time yield effects of mercury after indirect exposure in vivo. The results indicated that for a concentration of 2.0 mg Hg0/l, there was no significant increase in frequency of micronuclei (MN), but at higher concentrations [20.0 and 200.0 mg Hg0/l] there was a significant increase in MN frequencies. This effect was higher after 31 days of exposure, followed by slight stabilization and gradual decrease. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 30:293–297, 1997

Assessment of the mutagenic, recombinagenic and carcinogenic potential of orlistat in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.

In this study the mutagenic, recombinagenic, carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic potential of orlistat was assessed using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) and the epithelial tumor detection test (wts). The experiments were conducted on Drosophila melanogaster. In the assessment using SMART, larvae, descendants from the standard (ST) cross and the high bioactivation (HB) cross, were treated chronically with three orlistat concentrations. The results revealed a recombinagenic effect, associated with orlistat, in the descendants of the HB cross, at all three levels of concentration. Homologous recombination can function as a determinant at different stages of carcinogenesis. For verification, larvae from the wts test, descendants of the wts/TM3 virgin female and mwh/mwh male cross, were treated with the same three orlistat concentrations separately and in association with mitomicin C (0.1mM). The results did not, however, provide evidence that orlistat has carcinogenic potential nor was it associated with the reduction of tumors induced by mitomicin C in D. melanogaster.

Molecular characterization of adenoviruses from children presenting with acute respiratory disease in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and detection of an isolate genetically related to feline adenovirus

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are a major cause of acute respiratory diseases (ARD), gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis and urinary infections. Between November 2000-April 2007, a total of 468 nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were collected from children with ARD at the Clinics Hospital of Uberlândia. These samples were tested by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and 3% (14/468) tested positive for the presence of HAdV. By performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HAdV DNA in samples that tested negative or inconclusive for all viruses identifiable by IFA (respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses 1, 2 and 3, influenza viruses A and B and HAdV), as well as negative for rhinoviruses by reverse transcription-PCR, additional 19 cases were detected, for a total of 33 (7.1%) HAdV-positive samples. Nucleotide sequences of 13 HAdV samples were analyzed, revealing that they belonged to species B, C and E. Further analyses showed that species C (HAdV-2) was the most prevalent among the sequenced samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the presence of HAdV-4 in Brazil. We also detected an isolate that was 100% identical to a part of the feline adenovirus hexon gene sequence.

Modulating effect of synthetic statins against damage induced by doxorubicin in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

The competitive inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, popularly known as statins, exert pleiotropic effects, which result from the ability of statins to inhibit the synthesis of isoprenoids, which are fundamental for the functioning of proteins responsible for intracellular signaling. Some recent studies suggest an important role associated with the use of antineoplastic atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, the statins most widely used today. In this study, the Drosophila wing spot test was used to evaluate possible protective effects of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin against damage induced by DXR. Larvae were chronically treated with negative control (ethanol 5%), positive control (DXR 0.125 mg/mL) and five different concentrations of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. The results demonstrated absence of a mutagenic effect for the two statins tested. The analysis of the descendants co-treated with DXR and atorvastatin/rosuvastatin revealed a modulatory effect of these statins on damage induced by DXR. This effect was verified in all concentrations tested in the descendants of the ST and HB crosses treated with rosuvastatin, and only in descendants of the HB cross treated with atorvastatin. Induction of apoptosis and antioxidant activity appear to be the main mechanisms involved in reducing the frequency of mutant spots and consequent modulation of the damage induced by DXR.

Genotoxicity of Water From the Paraguay River Near Cáceres-MT, Brazil in the Drosophila Wing-Spot Test

The genotoxic activity of surface water samples from four sites along the Paraguay River, near Cáceres, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, was investigated using the Drosophila melanogaster Somatic Mutation and Recombination test (SMART). Effluents from sanitary sewers and agroindustrial effluents (residual effluents from slaughterhouses, leather tanneries, and dairies) flow into the Paraguay River, and directly or indirectly contaminate water from sampling sites 1–3. Site 4 was an upriver reference site that received no domestic or agroindustrial discharges. Water was collected at 4 time periods: September 2003 and August 2004 (periods of low water or drought); and April 2004 and March 2005 (periods of high water or flood). Chromium concentrations above statutory limits were detected at sites 1–3 (August 2004), and sites 1, 2 and 4 (March 2005). Sulfur compounds were also detected at sites 1–3. The SMART performed using standard (ST) cross flies detected genotoxic responses in only two samples, the August 2004 site 1 sample and the March 2005 site 2 sample. Many more samples were positive using high bioactivation (HB) cross flies: site 1 (all collection periods), site 2 (September 2003 and April 2004), and site 3 (September 2003 and August 2004). Mutant frequency comparisons between marker‐heterozygous and balancer‐heterozygous flies from the HB cross indicated that the positive genotoxic responses for the site 2 (April 2004) and site 3 (September 2003) samples were due mainly to mitotic recombination. Our findings indicate that the section of the Paraguay River within the urban perimeter of Cáceres is contaminated with genotoxic agents. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008.

Modulating effect of simvastatin on the DNA damage induced by doxorubicin in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.

Simvastatin is an antilipemic drug that promotes inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. Simvastatin can also inhibit the formation of other products, such as isoprenoids, conferring additional benefits to this drug, which include antiproliferative, anti-invasive and pro-apoptotic effects. This study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the mutagenic/recombinogenic effect of simvastatin as well as the possible modulatory effects of this statin on the DNA damage induced by doxorubicin (DXR). This analysis was performed using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. To study these effects, larvae descendants of both crosses (ST and HB) were chronically treated with five concentrations of simvastatin, separately and in association with DXR. The results revealed no mutagenic/recombinogenic effect of simvastatin for any of the concentrations tested. A modulating effect of simvastatin was also observed on DNA damage induced by DXR. The reduction of total mutant frequency was observed for spots from descendants of both crosses, but the inhibition was more effective in descendants from the standard cross (ST). It is believed that this modulating effect is mainly associated with the antioxidant activity of this class of drugs, although this parameter has not been directly assessed in this study.

Lack of mutagenic effect by multi-walled functionalized carbon nanotubes in the somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are formed by rolling up a single graphite sheet into a tube. Among the different types of CNTs, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) comprise a set of concentric nanotubes with perfect structures. Several uses for MWCNTs have been suggested to be included in biological applications such as manufacturing of biosensors, carriers of drugs. However, before these materials can be put on the market, it is necessary to know their genotoxic effects. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the mutagenicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster, using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART). This assay detects the loss of heterozygosity of marker genes expressed phenotypically on the wings of the fly. Larvae of three days were used, resulting from ST cross, with basal levels of the cytochrome P450 and larvae of high metabolic bioactivity capacity (HB cross). They were treated with different concentrations of MWCNTs functionalized. The MH descendants, analyzed in both ST and HB crosses, had no significant effects on the frequency of mutant. Based on the results and on the experimental conditions mentioned in this study, it was concluded that MWCNTs were not mutagenic in D. melanogaster.

Modulatory effects of Metformin on mutagenicity and epithelial tumor incidence in doxorubicin-treated Drosophila melanogaster

Metformin (MET) is an anti-diabetic drug used to prevent hepatic glucose release and increase tissue insulin sensitivity. Diabetic cancer patients are on additional therapy with anticancer drugs. Doxorubicin (DXR) is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent that interferes with the topoisomerase II enzyme and generates free radicals. MET (2.5, 5, 10, 25 or 50 mM) alone was examined for mutagenicity, recombinogenicity and carcinogenicity, and combined with DXR (0.4 mM) for antimutagenicity, antirecombinogenicity and anticarcinogenicity, using the Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test and the Test for Detecting Epithelial Tumor Clones in Drosophila melanogaster. MET alone did not induce mutation or recombination. Modulating effects of MET on DXR-induced DNA damage were observed at the highest concentrations. In the evaluation of carcinogenesis, MET alone did not induce tumors. When combined with DXR, MET also reduced the DXR-induced tumors at the highest concentrations. Therefore, in the present experimental conditions, MET alone did not present mutagenic/recombinogenic/carcinogenic effects, but it was able to modulate the effect of DXR in the induction of DNA damage and of tumors in D. melanogaster. It is believed that this modulating effect is mainly related to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects of this drug, although such effects have not been directly evaluated.

Recombinogenic activity of Pantoprazole® in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Pantoprazole® is one of the leading proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) used in the treatment of a variety of diseases related to the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, studies have shown an increased risk of developing gastric cancer, intestinal metaplasia and hyperplasia of endocrine cells with prolonged use. In the present study, the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) was employed to determine the mutagenic effects of Pantoprazole on Drosophila melanogaster. Repeated treatments with Pantoprazole were performed on 72-hour larvae of the standard (ST) and high bioactivation (HB) crosses at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 μM. In addition, doxorubicin (DXR) was administered at 0.4 mM, as a positive control. When administered to ST descendants, total number of spots were statistically significant at 2.5 and 5.0 μM concentrations. For HB descendants, a significant increase in the total number of spots was observed among the marked transheterozygous (MH) flies. Through analysis of balancer heterozygous (BH) descendants, recombinogenic effects were observed at all concentrations in descendants of the HB cross. In view of these experimental conditions and results, it was concluded that Pantoprazole is associated with recombinogenic effects in Drosophila melanogaster.

Assessment of the mutagenic, recombinogenic, and carcinogenic potential of amphotericin B in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Amphotericin B (AmB) is an antifungal antibiotic extracted from Streptomyces nodosus. Its fungicidal activity depends primarily on its binding to the sterol group that is present in fungal membranes. In view of the toxicity of this drug, the purpose of this study was to evaluate its mutagenic, carcinogenic, and recombinogenic activity, based on the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) and the epithelial tumor detection test (wts) applied to Drosophila melanogaster. Larvae were chronically treated with different concentrations of AmB (0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 mg/mL). The results revealed that AmB is a promutagen exhibiting increase in the number of spots on individuals from high bioactivation (HB) cross with a high level of cytochrome P450. The results also indicate that the main genotoxic event induced by AmB is recombinogenicity. Homologous recombination can act as a determinant at different stages of carcinogenesis. For verification of carcinogenic potential of this compound, larvae from the wts/mwh and wts/ORR, flr3 were treated with the same three AmB concentrations used in the SMART assay. The results did not provide evidence that AmB has carcinogenic potential in wts/mwh individuals. However, individuals from wts/ORR, flr3 developed tumors at the highest concentration tested.