Exocyclic DNA adducts and oxidative stress parameters: useful tools for biomonitoring exposure to aldehydes in smokers

Abstract

Context

Exocyclic DNA adducts have been shown to be potential biomarkers of cancer risk related to oxidative stress and exposure to aldehydes in smokers. In fact, aldehydes potentially arise from tobacco combustion directly and endogenously through lipid peroxidation.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the relationship between a profile of nine aldehydes-induced DNA adducts and antioxidant activities, in order to evaluate new biomarkers of systemic exposure to aldehydes.

Methods

Using our previously published UPLC-MS/MS method, adducts levels were quantified in the blood DNA of 34 active smokers. The levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E), coenzyme Q10, β-carotene, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein were measured.

Results

Adducts induced by tobacco smoking-related aldehydes were quantified at levels reflecting an oxidative production from lipid peroxidation. A significant correlation between SOD and crotonaldehyde-induced adducts (p = 0.0251) was also observed. β-Carotene was negatively correlated with the adducts of formaldehyde (p = 0.0351) and acetaldehyde (p = 0.0413). Vitamin C tended to inversely correlate with acetaldehyde-induced adducts (p = 0.0584).

Conclusion

These results are promising, and the study is now being conducted on a larger cohort with the aim of evaluating the impact of smoking cessation programs on the evolution of adducts profile and antioxidants activities.

Keywords:

• Aldehydes
• biomarkers
• DNA adducts
• tobacco smoke
• oxidative stress
• antioxidants

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Professor Sophie Pricot for the language proofreading.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, M.L. and M.VDS.; methodology, M.L., H.A. and L.G.; formal analysis, N.H. and M-L.C.; investigation, H.A. and M-L.C.; resources, M.L and L.G.; data curation, M.L. and L.G.; writing—original draft preparation, H.A.; writing—review and editing, M.L.; visualization, H.A.; supervision, M.L. and L.G.; project administration, M.L. and L.G.; funding acquisition, M.L. and H.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional review board statement

The study was approved by the Scientific and Ethics Committee of CHU UCL Namur, Belgium (NUB: B039201316167).

Informed consent statement

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Data available on request

The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Regional Council of Normandy and EU, Fonds Européens de Développement Régional: RN-BEE Réseau Normand Biomarqueurs d’Exposition Environnementales.