Protective effect of bilirubin and natural cow-bezoar on styrene-induced HepG2 cell DNA strand breaks

  Objective   To observe the DNA strand breaks in HepG2 cell induced by styrene and to evaluate the antagonistic effect of natural cow-bezoar and bilirubin on DNA strand breaks induced by styrene.

  Methods   Using SCGE(Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis)to detect the DNA strand breaks in HepG2 cell in vitro.

  Results   Under the styrene concentration that the viability of HepG2 cell was not influenced, 0.2 μmol/L styrene could induce apparent DNA strand breaks in this kind of cell.The frequency and the migration of "comet" cell was(9.5±2.1)% and(4.5±0.7)μm, respectively.At the styrene concentration that could induce apparent DNA strand breaks natural cow-bezoar or bilirubin was added at the same time.Both natural cow-bezoar and bilirubin could reverse the DNA strand break induced by styrene in certain concentration.The co-treatment of 1 μmol/L styrene and 10 μmol/L natural cow-bezoar or bilirubin could counteract the effect of styrene almost thoroughly.

  Conclusion   Styrene could induce DNA strand breaks in HepG2 cell and both natural cow-bezoar and bilirubin could antagonize such damage effect of styrene.