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

Abstract

In a previous study (M.Sc. FAPESP grant #2013/05084-8), it was observed that anesthesiologists who worked in a university hospital are exposed to high trace concentrations of currently used inhalation anesthetics (halogenated isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, besides nitrous oxide) and show genetic instability, cytotoxicity and changes in cell proliferation, detected by the buccal micronucleus assay. Therefore, considering our results regarding the deleterious effects of chronic occupational exposure to anesthetics, the present study aims to elucidate the possible toxicity mechanisms of waste anesthetic gases. Thus, several markers will be analyzed for oxidative stress (oxidative damage in nucleic acids, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide metabolites, individual antioxidants, homocysteine and folate), inflammatory response (proinflammatory interleukins - IL-6, -8 and -17, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and hepatic enzymes), and genes related to oxidative stress (hOGG1 and XRCC1) and inflammation (IL-6, IL-8 and IL -17), as well as telomere length, which will be determined by molecular biology (real-time quantitative PCR). The results from anesthesiologists will be compared to the control group (physicians without occupational exposure), who will be matched by age, sex and lifestyle. There is a possibility of the candidate to have a Ph.D. Sandwich at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University (Boston, MA) in collaboration with researchers who have extensive experience in the area of antioxidants and oxidative stress.