Characteristics of DNA repair capacity of peripheral blood lymphocytes from asthmatic patients with different phenotypes and severity

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The increased levels of chromosomal alterations have been reported in lymphocytes of asthmatic patients. These alterations may be supposed to be associated with insufficiency of the DNA repair capacity. The aim of this study was to analyze the peculiarities of the DNA repair synthesis in asthmatic patient with different phenotypes and severity. <b>Methods:</b> Spontaneous and UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated for 58 asthmatic patients aged 16-70 years.&nbsp;Index of stimulation (IS) of DNA repair was determined as the ratio of UV-induced to spontaneous UDS values. The control group consisted of 15 healthy subjects. <b>Results:</b> The levels of spontaneous UDS in lymphocytes of asthmatic patients appeared to be significantly (p &lt; 0.02) higher than those in healthy controls, and the IS values were found to be significantly (p &lt; 0.001) lower in patients as compared with healthy subjects. The rates of UV-induced UDS in non-allergic asthmatics were established to be significantly (p &lt; 0.05) lower than those in allergic patients. The values of spontaneous UDS did not differ (p&gt;0.05) in patients with different phenotypes. The rates of spontaneous UDS were found to be significantly&nbsp;(p&lt;0.01) higher, and the IS values significantly lower (p&lt;0.001) in patients with severe asthma than in those with mild to moderate condition. <b>Conclusions:</b> The rates of DNA repair synthesis are significantly altered in lymphocytes of asthmatic patients as compared with healthy subjects and may be associated with asthma phenotype and severity.