Objective: To explore the effect of metabolic activation on the oxidative cell damage induced by mainstream smoke (MS).
Methods: A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of MS for 2 hours in the presence and absence of S9 mix. ROS levels were determined. DNA and chromosome damages were detected. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were measured.
Results: With different concentrations of MS treatment, the contents of ROS in the cells with S9 mix were significantly higher than those without S9 mix (P<0.05). More serious chromosome and DNA damages in the cells with S9 mix were observed than those without S9 mix. The micronucleus rate, comet rate, L Tail and OTM in the cells with S9 mix were significantly higher than those without S9 mix (P<0.05). With increased dose of MS, the activities of SOD and GSH-Px decreased in both cells with and without S9 mix. But the tendency of decrease in the cells with S9 mix was more obvious than those without S9 mix (P<0.05).
Conclusion: MS induces oxidative damage in A549 cells and the metabolic activations could increase the oxidative stress and potentiate the cellular genotoxicity.