Assessment of DNA damage and expression variation of genes related to DNA damage in salt mine workers

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.