Mazhar Tehmina, Akram Zertashia, Sidiqque Ambar, Mahjabeen Ishrat, Haroon Liza, Noor Hadiqa
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Lab, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Mol Genet Genomics. 2025 Sep 2;300(1):82. doi: 10.1007/s00438-025-02289-9.
Salt mine workers are occupationally exposed to DNA damaging agents at their workplace. The present study estimates the extent of DNA damage and expression deregulation of related genes in mine workers, staff, community living nearby and unexposed controls. Blood samples were collected from all groups. Expression analysis of AGT, H2AX and Mre11 genes was done using RT-PCR. DNA damage was detected by comet assay. Relative expression of selected genes was upregulated in mine, staff and community group compared to control. Expression of all three genes increased significantly with increasing age, total exposure time and smoking. DNA damage was higher in mine workers compared to control, staff and community groups. Elevated serum levels of sodium, potassium, chloride and total ROS were observed in mine and staff group compared to control and community group. Positive correlation was observed between gene expression versus total exposure time. Moreover, significant dependable regression was observed between gene expression versus comet parameters. The present study anticipated a negative impact of mine environment on the genomic stability of mine workers and staff group. Moreover, age, exposure time and smoking act synergistically to enhance the extent of DNA damage, ROS production, electrolyte imbalance and expression deregulation of selected genes. In addition, current research will provoke thoughtful insights to rethink the risk assessments for genetic integrity of community living nearby mines.
盐矿工人在工作场所会职业性地接触到DNA损伤剂。本研究评估了盐矿工人、工作人员、附近社区居民以及未接触者对照组中DNA损伤的程度和相关基因的表达失调情况。采集了所有组别的血样。使用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）对AGT、H2AX和Mre11基因进行表达分析。通过彗星试验检测DNA损伤。与对照组相比，盐矿工人组、工作人员组和社区居民组中所选基因的相对表达上调。随着年龄、总接触时间和吸烟量的增加，这三个基因的表达均显著增加。与对照组、工作人员组和社区居民组相比，盐矿工人的DNA损伤更高。与对照组和社区居民组相比，盐矿工人组和工作人员组的血清钠、钾、氯和总活性氧水平升高。基因表达与总接触时间之间呈正相关。此外，基因表达与彗星试验参数之间存在显著的相关性回归。本研究预计盐矿环境会对盐矿工人和工作人员组的基因组稳定性产生负面影响。此外，年龄、接触时间和吸烟会协同作用，增强DNA损伤程度、活性氧生成、电解质失衡以及所选基因的表达失调。此外，当前的研究将引发深入思考，重新审视对附近盐矿社区居民遗传完整性的风险评估。
