This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Petruzzelli, S. Articles by Giuntini, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Petruzzelli, S. Articles by Giuntini, C.

Serum Antibodies to Benzo(a)pyrene Diol Epoxide-DNA Adducts in the General Population: Effects of Air Pollution, Tobacco Smoking, and Family History of Lung Diseases¹

Respiratory Pathophysiology Unit, Cardiopulmonary Department, University of Pisa [S. P., A. C., N. P., F. B., L. C., F. D. P., P. P., C. G.]; Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council [G. V., M. B.]; and Environmental Protection Unit [G. C.], Pisa, Italy

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are almost ubiquitous pollutants that may interact with metabolic systems in human tissues and eventually cause cancer. PAH-adducted DNA becomes antigenic and antibodies anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA may be found in serum of PAH-exposed subjects. The presence of serum antibodies anti-BPDE-DNA adduct was investigated in 1345 individuals from family clusters of the general population of a small area in central Italy in whom information about smoking habits, site of residence, and personal and family history of lung diseases, including cancer, were obtained. Anti-BPDE-DNA antibodies in the sera were detected with a direct ELISA and the association of anti-BPDE-DNA antibodies with subjects' data from a standardized respiratory questionnaire including age, occupation, tobacco smoking habits, respiratory symptoms, and family history of respiratory diseases was subsequently tested by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of subjects with anti-BPDE-DNA antibodies was 21.0% (n = 283), with no differences between males and females. Anti-BPDE-DNA positivity was associated with living in the urban area [odds ratio (OR), 1.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16–1.92], with active tobacco smoking (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.06–1.48), and with family history of lung cancer (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.90–1.88), and positivity increased with the number of members in the family cluster positive to anti-BPDE-DNA antibodies (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.03–1.65). This study on a large general population sample indicates that serum anti-BPDE-DNA antibodies may be considered as biomarkers of exposure to environmental carcinogens and of DNA damage. The genetic and familial components of their association with tobacco smoking lend further support to the argument about the familial predisposition to lung cancer.

¹ This work was supported by funds from CNR Special Project "Applicazioni Cliniche della Ricerca Oncologica" and CNR-ENEL Project "Interactions of the Energy System with Human Health and Environment," Rome, Italy.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Respiratory Pathophysiology Unit, Cardiopulmonary Department, University of Pisa, Ospedale "Cisanello", via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. Phone: 39-50-996946; Fax: 39-50-580126; E-mail: stepetru@nsifc.ifc.pi.cnr.it.

Received 2/26/98. Accepted 7/17/98.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Suwan-ampai, A. Navas-Acien, P. T. Strickland, and J. Agnew Involuntary Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Urinary Levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the United States, 1999 to 2002 Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., March 1, 2009; 18(3): 884 - 893. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Maio, S. Baldacci, L. Carrozzi, E. Polverino, A. Angino, F. Pistelli, F. Di Pede, M. Simoni, D. Sherrill, and G. Viegi Urban Residence Is Associated With Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Italian General Population Samples Chest, February 1, 2009; 135(2): 434 - 441. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M M Freemer, T E King Jr, and L A Criswell Association of smoking with dsDNA autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus Ann Rheum Dis, May 1, 2006; 65(5): 581 - 584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Phillips Smoking-related DNA and protein adducts in human tissues Carcinogenesis, December 1, 2002; 23(12): 1979 - 2004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B C Gladen, T D Zadorozhnaja, N Chislovska, D O Hryhorczuk, M C Kennicutt II, and R E Little Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in placenta Human and Experimental Toxicology, November 1, 2000; 19(11): 597 - 603. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. P. Ciolino and G. C. Yeh Inhibition of Aryl Hydrocarbon-Induced Cytochrome P-450 1A1 Enzyme Activity and CYP1A1 Expression by Resveratrol Mol. Pharmacol., October 1, 1999; 56(4): 760 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. C. Yeh, P. J. Daschner, J. Lopaczynska, C. J. MacDonald, and H. P. Ciolino Modulation of Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity and Expression Is Associated with Aryl Hydrocarbon Resistance in Vitro J. Biol. Chem., September 7, 2001; 276(37): 34708 - 34713. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]