Evaluation of redox status, inflammatory response, telomeres and gene expression in anesthesiologists

Abstract

To better understand and to elucidate the possible mechanisms of induced-genome instability in occupationally workers who have been exposed to the most widely used waste anesthetic gases (results from financial grant FAPESP#2013/05084-8), this study aims to evaluate oxidative stress, inflammatory response, the expression of related genes and telomere length in anesthesiologists. The study will be conducted at the Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University - UNESP, in 60 physicians matched for age, sex and lifestyle, being 30 anesthetists occupationally exposed to the following waste anesthetic gases: isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane and nitrous oxide, and 30 individuals without occupational exposure. To evaluate oxidative stress, we will analyze systemic oxidative DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity (TAP), nitric oxide metabolites and various individual lipophilic antioxidants, and also homocysteine and folate. The inflammatory response will be evaluated by pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17), C-reactive protein, and liver enzymes. The expression of genes related to repair of oxidative DNA damage (hOGG1 and XRCC1) and to inflammation (IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17), and also the determination of telomere length will be evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Some methods of oxidative stress will be performed in an already established partnership with the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (Boston, USA). (AU)