hOGG1(326), XRCC1(399) and XRCC3(241) polymorphisms influence micronucleus frequencies in human lymphocytes in vivo

A pooled analysis of five biomonitoring studies was performed to assess the influence of hOGG1326, XRCC1399 and XRCC3241 gene polymorphisms on micronuclei (MN) frequency in human peripheral blood lymphocytes, as measured by the ex vivo/in vitro cytokinesis-block micro-nucleus (CBMN) assay. Each study addressed a type of occupational exposure potentially able to induce DNA strand breakage (styrene, ionising radiation, cobalt/hard metal, welding fumes and inorganic arsenite compounds), and therefore MN, as a result of base excision repair and double-strand break repair deficiencies. The effect of genotype, age, exposure to genotoxic agents and smoking habit on MN induction was determined using Poisson regression analysis in 171 occupationally exposed male workers and in 132 non-exposed male referents. Th