MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-10-08DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag035
{"title":"Correction: Decreased adiposity resulting from reduced food intake likely contributes to the amelioration of genotoxic alterations in Omega-3-supplemented cafeteria diet-fed mice.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/geag035","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149127838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-10-03DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag034
E Saenz-Martinez, A López de Cerain, A Azqueta
{"title":"Assessment of the DNA lesion specificity of the comet assay in combination with DNA repair inhibitors (Aphidicolin and Hydroxyurea/Cytosine Arabinoside).","authors":"E Saenz-Martinez, A López de Cerain, A Azqueta","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/geag034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The standard alkaline comet assay is a straightforward and cost-effective genotoxicity test commonly used in genetic toxicology to detect strand breaks and alkali-labile sites in DNA. Furthermore, with certain modifications, other altered bases such as oxidised and alkylated bases and cross-links can also be detected. However, it cannot detect bulky DNA adducts, which are a significant DNA lesion formed by the attachment of a chemical to DNA. Given that bulky adducts are mainly repaired by nucleotide excision repair (NER), the modification of the comet assay by adding blockers of the repair synthesis stage of NER, lead to the accumulation of incision intermediates, i.e. DNA breaks. Although this modification has been proposed as a method for detecting bulky adducts, the literature suggests that it may also detect other DNA lesions and that it has not yet been validated. To study the DNA lesion specificity of the in vitro comet assay in combination with DNA repair inhibitors, we tested a set of seven genotoxic compounds with different mechanisms of action and two non-genotoxic compounds, in TK6 cells. The assays were performed in the absence or presence of the inhibitors, specifically the combination of hydroxyurea (HU) and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), or aphidicolin (APC). The panel of genotoxic compounds included a bulky DNA adducts inducer (BPDE), two alkylating agents (methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)), two oxidising agents (KBrO₃ and H₂O₂), and two cross-linking agents (cisplatin (CisPt) and mitomycin C (MitC)). The MTS and comet assays were performed to determine cytotoxicity and DNA damage, respectively. Results showed that this approach increases the sensitivity of the comet assay for detecting DNA damage, but not specifically bulky DNA adducts.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149112338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-09-03DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag033
Matthew Stevenson, Roman Wieczorek, Edgar Trelles Sticken, Sarah Jean Pour, Torge Evenburg, Tiandan Wu, Florian Haberstroh, Sandra Otte, Liam Simms, Fiona Chapman
{"title":"Next generation nicotine product aerosol extracts exhibit reduced toxicological effects compared to cigarette smoke extracts in the ToxTracker Antioxidant and ToxProfiler MAX assays.","authors":"Matthew Stevenson, Roman Wieczorek, Edgar Trelles Sticken, Sarah Jean Pour, Torge Evenburg, Tiandan Wu, Florian Haberstroh, Sandra Otte, Liam Simms, Fiona Chapman","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/geag033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Smoking is a cause of serious diseases in adult smokers. Next generation products (NGP) can provide potentially reduced harm alternatives of nicotine delivery, due to the reductions in numbers and levels of toxicants associated with their use. These include heated tobacco and herbal products (HTPs/ HHPs) and electronic vapour products (EVPs). This study assessed the effects of a range of NGP (an HTP, an HHP and two EVPs) and a reference cigarette (1R6F) in the ToxTracker Antioxidant (AO) and ToxProfiler Mitotox Assessment Xtension (MAX) assays, which provide mechanistic insights via a range of cell stress endpoints. Aqueous extracts of smoke/ aerosol were generated by bubbling through phosphate-buffered saline solution, which was analysed for nicotine and carbonyl content. In the ToxTracker AO assay, 1R6F induced oxidative stress, genotoxicity and protein damage responses. Addition of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) partially reduced selected responses, indicating oxidative stress contributes but does not fully account for all observed effects. Oxidative stress responses followed a similar trend for HTP; but was not classed as genotoxic. The HHP induced one oxidative stress marker, which was reduced by the addition of NAC/GSH. In the ToxProfiler MAX assay, 1R6F induced oxidative, endoplasmic reticulum and cell cycle stress. HTP induced the same stress pathways but was less potent than 1R6F. The HHP only induced an oxidative stress response, and at higher concentrations than 1R6F. The EVPs did not induce any of the cell stress markers across both assays and none of the test products induced mitochondrial toxicity. Overall, biological activity followed a decreasing gradient from 1R6F to HTP, HHP and EVPs. The findings of the assays used in this study reflect the proposed placement of such products on the relative reduced risk scale based on their smoke/aerosol chemistry and thus highlights the tobacco harm reduction potential of NGP.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148887990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag030
Xu He, Ines Peremin, Roger Godschalk, Marko Gerić, Ivone Jakaša, Goran Gajski, Sabine A S Langie
{"title":"Expanding the comet assay toolbox for human biomonitoring using frozen whole blood.","authors":"Xu He, Ines Peremin, Roger Godschalk, Marko Gerić, Ivone Jakaša, Goran Gajski, Sabine A S Langie","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/geag030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The comet assay is a widely used tool for evaluating DNA damage in various biological samples, with frozen whole blood (WB) as an attractive biomatrix, due to its ease of collection, handling, and storage. Although frozen WB has been successfully applied in the comet assay to study DNA damage, its application in the comet assay to study potential protective mechanisms, such as DNA repair or antioxidant capacity, has not been fully established yet. In this study, we set up a protocol using frozen WB for assessing base excision repair (BER) activity and further optimized the protocol to assess the cellular antioxidant defense capacity against oxidation-induced DNA damage. White blood cells (WBCs) were isolated to extract proteins, and a protein concentration of 2 mg/mL enabled reliable detection of BER activity, even in samples stored for up to 27 months. This optimized assay was subsequently applied in a pilot study involving 28 participants with either a family tumor history (FTH, n = 10) or not (NFTH, n = 18). The FTH group exhibited significantly less BER activity compared to the NFTH group (p = 0.005). In addition, the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) challenge comet assay was further optimized to assess the cellular antioxidant defense capacity against oxidation-induced DNA damage in frozen WB and subsequently applied to a cohort study (n = 140). Frequent intake of seeds (p = 0.025) and vegetables (p = 0.003) was observed to protect against H2O2-induced DNA damage. Together, these innovations expand the applications of the comet assay in frozen blood samples, providing a more comprehensive biomonitoring toolbox. By enabling reliable measurements of DNA damage, antioxidant capacity, and DNA repair activity from a single frozen blood sample, these assays are ideally suited for large-scale human biomonitoring and clinical studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag032
Luping Chen, Shan Wang, Corinne Spooren, Sabine A S Langie, Alex Mommers, Frederik-Jan van Schooten, Daisy Jonkers, Roger Godschalk
{"title":"Tryptophan metabolism and AhR activation are associated with fecal water-induced DNA damage in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.","authors":"Luping Chen, Shan Wang, Corinne Spooren, Sabine A S Langie, Alex Mommers, Frederik-Jan van Schooten, Daisy Jonkers, Roger Godschalk","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/geag032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with alterations in the intestinal luminal environment that may modify the composition of fecal water (FW) and its capacity to induce DNA damage. The aim of this study was to identify FW metabolites associated with DNA damage and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity and to investigate whether shared metabolic pathways may link these responses in patients with IBD. FW samples from 80 IBD patients and 20 healthy controls were analyzed. DNA damage in Caco-2 cells following FW exposure was assessed using the comet assay, AhR activity using the ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay, and FW metabolites by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolite signatures associated with DNA damage and AhR activity were identified separately, and subsequent pathway analysis revealed overlapping metabolic pathways, prompting further investigation of AhR-associated tryptophan metabolites. Kynurenine was inversely associated with AhR activity but positively associated with DNA damage in IBD, whereas serotonin was positively related to AhR activity and was protective against FW-induced DNA damage. Indoles did not significantly contribute to FW-induced DNA damage. These findings suggest that inflammation-associated alterations in tryptophan metabolism are associated with altered AhR signaling and epithelial DNA damage in IBD.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148874815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Acute oral dose toxicity study of micro- and nano-plastics of polystyrene in female Wistar albino rats.","authors":"Srilekha Chintala, Fathima Asra, Ramakrishna Kakarla, Ratna Kumari Jangili, Rajanna Ajumeera, Sreenivasa Rao Jarapala, Naresh Dumala","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/geag031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human exposure scenarios to emerging pollutants, micro- and nanoplastics are increasing. However, in vivo reports defining their acute genotoxic hazard, particularly under combined (microplastics (MPs) + nanoplastics (NPs)) exposure are limited. Polystyrene (PS) MPs and NPs are among the most prevalent and are being detected in food and environmental matrices. Hence, we investigated the acute genotoxic effects of PS MPs, NPs, and MPs+NPs treatment following oral administration at 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg body weight doses in female Wistar rats. Particle characterization confirmed polymer integrity and size distribution, with hydrodynamic diameters of 1422 nm for MPs and 112.3 nm for NPs in Milli-Q water. A dose-dependent hepatic and renal injury was observed in histopathological studies and the effect was more prominent at the 1000 mg/kg dose in rats treated with PS MPs+NPs. Comet assay results showed significant DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes, bone marrow, liver, and kidney cells with PS NPs and MPs+NPs compared with PS MPs treatment alone. Notably, PS MPs+NPs exposure induced DNA damage even at the lowest dose (10 mg/kg) tested. Cell cycle analysis in rats treated with PS MPs and NPs depicted arrest in G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases which was consistent with activation of DNA damage checkpoints. A dose dependent elevation in Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels levels and depletion of reduced glutathione in plasma samples of rats indicate disruption of redox homeostasis. Overall, the findings of this study provide invaluable insights on PS plastic particles in vivo effects after acute oral exposure indicating oxidative stress mediated DNA damage, cell cycle perturbation, and tissue injury. The overall toxicity trend followed the order MPs+NPs > NPs > MPs, suggesting enhanced toxicity following combined exposure and highlighting the need for long-term toxicity studies of MPs+NPs mixtures to inform regulatory risk assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148851030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-08-27DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag018
Piyawan Chailapakul, Junko Maeda, Tomisato Miura, Takamitsu A Kato
{"title":"Differential roles of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the DNA damage response revealed by isogenic V79 mutant cell lines.","authors":"Piyawan Chailapakul, Junko Maeda, Tomisato Miura, Takamitsu A Kato","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag018","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mutage/geag018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to establish a novel BRCA1 mutant cell line from Chinese hamster V79 cells and clarify the role of BRCA1 in the DNA damage response (DDR) by comparison with a BRCA2 mutant line, V-C8. Using CRISPR/Cas9 editing, we generated a hypomorphic BRCA1 mutant, designated B1-21, carrying a 27-bp in-frame deletion in exon 4. This mutation deletes nine amino acids within the RING domain. B1-21, V79, and V-C8 cells were analyzed for DDR phenotypes. Both mutants showed impaired RAD51 foci formation, defective homologous recombination repair, and increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. B1-21 cells were particularly sensitive to camptothecin and the PARP inhibitor NU1025, whereas V-C8 cells showed higher sensitivity to etoposide, cisplatin, mitomycin C, and bleomycin. Although γH2AX and FANCD2 focus responses were similar between V79 and B1-21, RAD51 recruitment was only partially reduced in B1-21 and completely absent in V-C8. B1-21 also displayed chromosomal instability (19-20 chromosomes), while V79 and V-C8 maintained a stable karyotype. After gamma irradiation, V-C8 cells accumulated substantially more chromatid-type aberrations and retained unrepaired chromatin longer than B1-21. Neither mutant showed normal RAD51 foci formation, radiation-induced sister chromatid exchange or an effective G2/M checkpoint arrest, unlike wild-type cells. Mitotic index measurements further confirmed checkpoint failure: V79 cells suppressed mitotic entry after irradiation, while B1-21 and V-C8 continued to enter mitosis, with V-C8 showing the most complete checkpoint breakdown. These findings indicate that partial disruption of the BRCA1 RING domain results in a hypomorphic phenotype with impaired homologous recombination, defective checkpoint control, and enhanced genotoxic sensitivity. The isogenic BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutant V79 lines offer a valuable model for dissecting DDR pathway differences and developing mutation-specific therapeutic strategies targeting BRCA-mutant cancers.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":"249-259"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13520635/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147776499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-08-27DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag019
Fatma Okus, Deniz Yuzbasioglu, Gonca Cakmak, Hasan Berk Demirel, Rumeysa Cetin Turker, Fatma Unal
{"title":"In vitro cytogenotoxicity of novel tetrazole-based Schiff bases and their platinum (II) complexes: a detailed analysis using chromosomal aberration, micronucleus, and comet assays.","authors":"Fatma Okus, Deniz Yuzbasioglu, Gonca Cakmak, Hasan Berk Demirel, Rumeysa Cetin Turker, Fatma Unal","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag019","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mutage/geag019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previously, tetrazole-based Schiff base ligands (TBSL) and their Pt(II) complexes were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxic activity. The results revealed that low cytotoxicity for the ligands and moderate effects for the Pt(II) complexes compared to cisplatin. Given these promising findings, the genotoxic potential of the Pt(II) complexes was further investigated. Genotoxicity was assessed using in vitro chromosomal aberration, micronucleus, and comet assays. The TBSL exhibited low genotoxicity, whereas the Pt(II) complexes induced higher genotoxic effects; however, these effects were lower than those observed for cisplatin. The low cytotoxic and genotoxic profiles of TBSL support their consideration for further pharmaceutical evaluation. In addition, the genotoxicity findings suggest that the Pt(II) complexes merit further investigation in the context of antitumor drug development.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":"260-270"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147974037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-08-27DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag020
Raquel D S Freitas, Ana L H Garcia, Bruna A A Martins, Daiana Dalberto, Fernanda R Da Silva, Malu S Borges, Gumercindo E P Peralta, Larissa D Bobermin, André Quincozes-Santos, Juliana Da Silva
{"title":"Ultra-processed foods and diet quality in long COVID: associations with symptom burden, DNA damage, and inflammation.","authors":"Raquel D S Freitas, Ana L H Garcia, Bruna A A Martins, Daiana Dalberto, Fernanda R Da Silva, Malu S Borges, Gumercindo E P Peralta, Larissa D Bobermin, André Quincozes-Santos, Juliana Da Silva","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag020","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mutage/geag020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diet quality can be a potential modifier of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), yet the relationship between dietary patterns, symptom burden, and biological markers remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that a low-quality diet would positively associate with PACS symptom burden, DNA damage, inflammatory and neurotrophic markers, and with overall health quality. A total of 186 individuals were classified into three groups: control (n = 64), acute PACS (n = 66), and chronic PACS (n = 55). Dietary intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was quantified via the Protective and Risk Eating Score (PRES). Blood samples were analyzed for inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β) and neurotrophic (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, S100 calcium-binding protein B) markers. DNA damage was assessed by micronuclei frequency, telomere length, and comet assay parameters. Health index (HI) was assessed by daily habits (alcohol consumption, sleeping patterns, hydration, exercise frequency, smoking habits, anthropometric parameters, and PRES). No significant differences were found among groups in ultra-processed foods or sugary products intake, PRES scores, inflammatory or neurotrophic biomarkers, DNA damage indicators, and HI. Of note, poorer diet quality was associated with higher symptom burden in PACS women, mainly in fatigue, memory, mental health, circulatory, and skin symptom domains. Few associations among diet quality, HI, and biomarkers emerged. Of note, principal component analysis shows that PACS relies on the convergence of genomic instability, systemic inflammation, and low diet quality. These findings suggest that diet may represent a modifiable factor in PACS management, warranting longitudinal and interventional studies to determine causality and therapeutic potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":"271-284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147974184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MutagenesisPub Date : 2026-08-27DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geag023
Anny Cristine de Araújo, Fabrícia de Medeiros Morais, Daline Fernandes de Souza Araújo, Danielle Soares Bezerra, Julio Alejandro Navoni, Joana Cristina Medeiros Tavares Marques
{"title":"Nutritional maternal factors affect the frequency of DNA damage in newborns.","authors":"Anny Cristine de Araújo, Fabrícia de Medeiros Morais, Daline Fernandes de Souza Araújo, Danielle Soares Bezerra, Julio Alejandro Navoni, Joana Cristina Medeiros Tavares Marques","doi":"10.1093/mutage/geag023","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mutage/geag023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maternal nutrition can influence genetic health during pregnancy, increasing the risk of DNA damage in both the mother and fetus. This study investigated the effect of maternal nutritional factors on DNA damage biomarkers in the mother-infant dyad. A cross-sectional study was conducted with pregnant women residing in Northeast Brazil. Participants included women aged ≥18 years in the third trimester, excluding those with non-communicable chronic diseases and smokers. Data collection included sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric information, and a 76-item Food Frequency Questionnaire. The micronucleus cytome assay was performed on oral mucosa cells, with DNA damage biomarkers expressed per thousand cells (‰). Statistical analysis involved hierarchical clustering and Generalized Linear Models using Jamovi 2.5.6. The median age of the pregnant women (n = 209) was 26 years. Only 44.5% had adequate pre-pregnancy nutritional status, with a 9.5% increase in low birth weight. Total energy intake was 1842 (588-5709) kcal, with 72% consuming less than 90% of their caloric needs. The diet was predominantly hyperproteic and hyperlipidic, with over 60% showing inadequate intake of magnesium and folic acid. Among 209 participants, 80 consented to oral mucosa cell collection, and 59 mother-infant pairs were analyzed. Three maternal nutritional profiles were identified: Cluster 1 (\"Multiple Burdens of Malnutrition\"), Cluster 2 (\"Low Burdens of Malnutrition\"), and Cluster 3 (\"High Nutritional Intake\"). While maternal nutritional profiles did not affect nuclear abnormalities in mothers, they influenced newborns. Infants of mothers in Clusters 1 and 2 exhibited more nuclear abnormalities than those in Cluster 3. Maternal nutritional inadequacy was associated with increased nuclear abnormalities in newborns, suggesting an impact on fetal genomic stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":18889,"journal":{"name":"Mutagenesis","volume":" ","pages":"298-309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148272484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}