Micronuclei and nuclear buds in buccal mucosa cells from patients with acromegaly

Acromegaly is characterized by the hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Individuals with acromegaly have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, and the mitogenic and anti-apoptotic effects of GH and IGF-1 may heighten their predisposition to tumorigenesis. The presence of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear buds (NBs) in buccal mucosa cells is a marker of DNA damage, and high levels have been linked to carcinogenesis. The aims of this study were i) to comparatively analyze the proportions of buccal mucosa cells with MN and NBs in patients with acromegaly and controls, and ii) to identify associations between increased levels of such cells and patient and clinical factors. MN- and NB-containing cells were quantified using fluorescence microscopy. Data on the following demographic and clinical characteristics were collected: age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, time since acromegaly, GH and IGF-1 levels, radiation exposure, diabetes, body mass index, blood pressure, and cancer history. The patients with acromegaly (n = 42; 17 male, 25 female) had higher proportions of MN- and NB-containing cells than the controls, although only the levels of the MN-containing cells significantly differed (p = 0.023). The levels of MN-containing cells significantly differed with age (< 45 vs. ≥ 45 years). A significant inverse correlation was observed between the frequency of MN-containing cells and the IGF-1/upper limit of normal ratio. In conclusion, the patients with acromegaly exhibited relatively higher proportions of buccal mucosa cells with MN, a marker of genomic instability.