Enhancement and attenuation of cytogenetic damage by vitamin C in cultured human lymphocytes exposed to Thiotepa or L-ethionine

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Abstract
Vitamin C (vit C) at 2 mM enhanced sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies induced by Thiotepa (THIO) or L-ethionine (L-ETH) in cultured human lymphocytes. However, when vit C was tested at 0.02 mM and 0.2 mM a rather protective effect on SCE rates induced by THIO or L-ETH was identified. Vit C (2 mM) caused a cell division delay in cultures treated with THIO or L-ETH. Division delays caused by THIO or L-ETH were reversed in the presence of 0.02 mM or 0.2 mM vit C. Mitotic indices (Mis) in cultures treated with THIO or L-ETH continued to be suppressed in the presence of 2 mM vit C. However, vit C at 0.02 mM reversed suppression of Mis caused by L-ETH or THIO. These findings illustrate the complexity of the interactions of vit C in biological systems and indicate that with different concentrations vit C can cause or prevent genetic toxicity.