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Updated: May 25, 2026

Quantification of three DNA Lesions by Mass Spectrometry and Assessment of Their Levels in Tissues of Mice Exposed to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter
Published on: May 29, 2019
Oxidatively generated DNA lesions as potential biomarkers of in vivo oxidative stress
J-L Ravanat1, J Cadet, T Douki
1Laboratoire Lésions des Acides Nucléiques, SCIB-UMR-E 3 (CEA-UJF), Institut Nanosciences et Cryogénie, CEA Grenoble, 17 rue des Martyrs, F38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France. jravanat@cea.fr
Abstract:
During the last three decades there was an increasing interest for developing biomarkers of oxidative stress. Therefore, efforts have been made to develop sensitive methods aimed at measuring cellular levels of oxidatively generated DNA lesions. Initially, most attention had focused on 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'- deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) probably because reliable analytical methods (mostly HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection) were available since mid-eighties to detect that lesion at the cellular level. With the recent development of more versatile analytical (using mass spectrometric detection) and biochemical assays (such as the comet assay) efforts are currently made to measure simultaneously several DNA lesions. The main degradation pathways of the four main pyrimidine (thymine, cytosine) and purine (adenine, guanine) bases mediated by hydroxyl radical (•OH), one-electron oxidants and singlet oxygen (1O2) have been also studied in detail and results indicate that other DNA modification than 8-oxodGuo could represent suitable biomarkers of oxidative stress. In this review article, the main oxidative degradation products of DNA will be presented together with their mechanisms of formation. Then the developed methods aimed at measuring cellular levels of oxidatively generated DNA lesions will be critically reviewed based on their specificity, versatility and sensitivity. Illustration of the powerfulness of the described methods will be demonstrated using quantification of DNA lesions in cells exposed to ionizing radiations. In addition, recent work highlighting the possible formation of complex DNA lesions will be reported and commented regarding the possibility of using such complex damage as potential biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Insights
Oxidative stress biomarkers are crucial. New methods can now measure multiple DNA lesions, not just 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine, offering better insights into cellular damage.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Growing interest in oxidative stress biomarkers over three decades.
- Focus on 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2 -deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) due to available analytical methods.
- Need for methods measuring multiple DNA lesions simultaneously.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review oxidative DNA degradation products and their formation mechanisms.
- Critically evaluate methods for measuring cellular DNA lesions (specificity, versatility, sensitivity).
- Discuss potential of complex DNA lesions as biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection.
- Mass spectrometry-based analytical assays.
- Comet assay and other biochemical assays.
Main Results:
- Detailed study of DNA base degradation pathways by hydroxyl radical, one-electron oxidants, and singlet oxygen.
- Identification of potential biomarkers beyond 8-oxodGuo.
- Demonstration of methods using ionizing radiation exposure models.
Conclusions:
- Multiple DNA lesions, including complex ones, can serve as effective oxidative stress biomarkers.
- Advanced analytical and biochemical assays enhance sensitivity and versatility in lesion detection.
- Future research should focus on validating novel biomarkers and understanding complex DNA damage.
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