Antioxidant effects of dexmedetomidine against hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in-vitro by alkaline comet assay.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that is commonly used as a sedative and an anesthetic. DEX?s protective effects against oxidative damage in both in-vitro and in vivo conditions have been demonstrated. It was aimed to evaluate and compare the protective effects of DEX and Vitamin C (Vit C) on DNA against H2O2-induced DNA damage in human lymphocyte cell cultures in vitro by alkaline Comet assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphocyte cell cultures were divided into five groups as negative control; solvent control; positive control; H2O2(150?M) + DEX(1?M;2.5?M;5?M); H2O2(150?M) + Vit C (1?M;2.5?M;5?M) and incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 hour. Cell viability was measured by Trypan Blue test. DNA damage was measured by Alkali Comet Technique and % tail intensity was evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance and Tukey?s multiple comparison test. RESULTS: It was observed that H2O2 significantly induced DNA damage in lymphocytes and this damage is decreased significantly with Vit C and DEX. It was observed that Vit C at 1?M and 2.5?M doses had a significantly stronger antioxidant effect, but there was no significant difference between the antioxidant effects of Vit C and DEX with 5?M doses. The concentration of 5?M DEX was found to be most effective in reducing oxidative DNA damage. CONCLUSION: There is limited data on protective effects of DEX against oxidative DNA damage. The primary effect might be cytoprotection. Our results showed that dexmedetomidine is protective against H2O2 induced in vitro oxidative DNA damage in lymphocyte cell cultures in a dose-dependent manner. DEX might have a potential therapeutic value in the prevention of oxidative DNA damage in patients.