Micronucleus Frequencies in Buccal Cells from Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia

Abstract

Presence and frequencies of micronuclei in buccal cells from patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) were detected. The aim of this study was to investigate the genome stability in patients and carriers of single gene for sickle cell disease. Buccal swaps were collected from 12 patients with SCA [(6 females and 6 males (Group 1)] and from 8 individuals carrying single gene of SCA (Group2). Ten healthy individuals matching in age and gender were also included in this assay as controls (Group3). Numbers of cells with micronucleus and un-nucleated cells were counted in all the three groups as parameters for the evaluation of genome stability. Significant number (2-12/1000 cells) of buccal cells with micronuclei was seen in patient’s cells. However; one of the individuals with SC trait showed cells with MN. Control groups have very few cells with MN 1-3/1000 cells. Karyolitic (un-nucleated) cell number in group 1 was 2.5 times more than in group 2 and 3 respectively compared to those of the controls. These results suggest that patients with sickle cell anaemia have unstable genome when both causative mutant genes are present. Presence of apoptotic cells is solely indicating their somatic tissue damage as a result of the disease