Based on cytological and nuclear features, the MN assay has been used to measure genome damage, proliferative potential, and cell death ( 8). The smear obtained by oral exfoliative cytology can be analyzed for buccal micronucleus assay (MN assay). Oral exfoliative cytology is a microscopic examination and measurement of cells, which have been shed or removed from the buccal epithelial surface. These findings show decreased antioxidant status, increases in ROS and RNS, and signs of damage caused by oxidative and nitrosative stress to fatty acids and DNA in patients with depression ( 5). There is much evidence that suggests the involvement of ROS and RNS in the pathophysiology of depression and possibly its association with neurodegeneration. Furthermore, ROS is known to cause many different types of DNA lesions, including base modifications, DNA strand breaks, interest and cross links and micronuclei ( 6, 7). However, in excess, ROS and RNS may react with fatty acids, proteins, and DNA, thereby, causing damage to these substrates ( 5). Under normal conditions, the production of ROS and RNS is tightly regulated and they have many physiological roles. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), including radicals and other reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, such as superoxide, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide, react with key cellular structures and alter their biological function. Individuals, who are hopeless, lack anticipation of future positive events and they think their goals will not be achieved or they show conditional goal setting ( 3, 4). Hopelessness is characterized by a feeling of futility and negative expectations of the future and one’s personal goals. Hopelessness is among symptoms strongly related to depression ( 2). Problems, which may be associated with depression, include sadness, hopelessness, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, suicidal thoughts, and restlessness ( 1). It is a complex disorder, which can be the result of interaction of environmental, genetic, and biological risk factors. However, more studies with larger sample sizes are required to verify this conclusion.ĭepression is a very common mental health disorder, which affects all communities around the world. Other parameters of MN assay showed no association with hopelessness scores.Īs the basal cells are biomarkers of proliferative potential, the results suggest that cellular regeneration is decreased in buccal mucosa of people with high level of hopelessness. There was a significant negative correlation between the frequency of basal cells and hopelessness scores (r = -0.323, P = 0.012).
None of the micronucleus (MN) assay parameters had an association with depression scores.
Smears were taken from the buccal mucosa of participants, and using micronucleus assay, they were analyzed for various cell population and genome damage markers, including cytokinetic defects (binucleated cells), proliferative potential (basal cell frequency), cell death (condensed chromatin, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, and karyolitic cells), and biomarkers of DNA damage (micronuclei and nuclear buds). Depression and hopelessness scores were measured using Beck’s depression inventory and Beck’s hopelessness scales, respectively. The sample included 59 healthy females from Fars province, southern Iran. This study aimed at evaluating whether depression and hopelessness are associated with markers of DNA damage, proliferative potential, and cell death. There is evidence that depression is accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species, which contribute to DNA damage. One of the major components of depression is hopelessness. Depression is a mental health disorder, which affects all the communities around the world.