Frequency of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in diabetic patients

ABSTRACT Purpose: Diabetes mellitus is associated with development of vascular complications consequent to oxidative DNA damage. In the current study, we evaluated the formation of biomarkers of genotoxicity as micronucleation, budding nuclear, nuclear bridge, and other nuclear abnormalities in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: forty-five subjects were divided into two groups of normoglycemic controls and hyperglycemic (type 2 diabetes), were bandied about in the study. Epithelial cells of the oral mucosa were collected according to the international protocol of Thomas et al. and Bolognesi et al. All nuclear changes found were recorded, totaling analysis of 2,000 cells. This finding was correlated with age, sex, comorbidities, and drug consumption habits. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test. Results: cells from diabetic patients showed an increased frequency of micronuclei (on average 4.7 per 2,000 cells compared with 2.0 in the control group, p < 0.001) and nuclear budding (average 6.3 per 2,000 cells against 4,1 control group, p < 0.05) when compared to the control group, indicating a higher DNA damage due to oxidative stress and possibly related vascular complications of diabetes. Conclusion: the high level of glucose in the blood appears to be involved with oxidative damage in the DNA of diabetic patients, manifested as an increase in micronuclei and nuclear budding. These nuclear changes have the potential to be used as biomarkers of cell damage in diabetic patients