Genetic variants in multisynthetase complex genes are associated with DNA damage levels in Chinese populations

• This is the first study investigating the association of variants in MSC genes and DNA damage level.
• Subjects were from three cities with different exposure level and a meta-analysis across the three cities was used.
• We evaluate the joint effects of SNPs on DNA damage levels in each of the city.
• We provide plausible explanation for the results using public database.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) and ARS-interacting multi-functional proteins (AIMPs) form a multisynthetase complex (MSC) and play an important role in the process of DNA damage repair. We hypothesized that genetic variants in key ARSs and AIMPs might regulate the DNA damage response. Therefore, we systematically screened 23 potentially functional polymorphisms in MSC genes and evaluated the association between the genetic variants and DNA damage levels in 307 subjects from three cities in southern, central and northern China (Zhuhai, Wuhan and Tianjin, respectively). We examined personal 24-h PM2.5 exposure levels and DNA damage levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes for each subject. We found that the variant allele of rs12199241 in AIMP3 was significantly associated with DNA damage levels (β = 0.343, 95%CI: 0.133–0.554, P = 0.001). Meanwhile, the results of rs5030754 in EPRS and rs3784929 in KARS indicated their suggestive