Benzo[a]pyrene- and formaldehyde-induced DNA damage and repair in rat tracheal epithelial cells.

The single and combined effects of 2 environmental carcinogens, benzo[a]pyrene (BAP) and formaldehyde (HCHO), on cell growth and DNA damage were assessed in a rat tracheal epithelial cell line, C18. Treatment of C18 cells with HCHO for 90 min reduced the calculated growth index at the highest concentration tested, 400 microM, while no growth effects were observed with BAP treatments. Combination treatments reduced the growth index to 75% of control values. Alkaline elution analysis of C18 cell DNA detected both DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC) and single-strand breaks (SSB) as a result of HCHO treatment, while BAP caused only SSB. HCHO-induced SSB were repaired within 2 h, whereas BAP-induced SSB persisted for at least 48 h. Combination treatment of cells with BAP followed by HCHO enhanced the number of SSB, but reduced DPC. The results are discussed in reference to earlier work which demonstrated the interaction in vivo between BAP and HCHO with respect to their carcinogenicity in rat tracheal implants.