The effect of age, sex, and lifestyle factors on micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the Bosnian population

• Frequency of human lymphocyte biomarkers is associated with age, sex and lifestyle factors.
• Micronuclei frequency is significantly associated with a family history of cancer.
• Alcohol significantly decreases the frequency of apoptotic cells in lymphocytes.
• The frequency of apoptotic and necrotic cells is negatively correlated with exposure to radiation.
• Micronuclei frequency is significantly correlated with smoking.

This study confirmed that the frequency of human lymphocyte biomarkers measured with the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMNcyt) assay, is associated with age, sex, and lifestyle factors. Cytogenetic analysis was carried out on samples from 100 healthy individuals living in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cells were cytologically scored for viability status, defined by the proportion of necrotic and apoptotic cells; mitotic status, corresponding to the proportion and ratios of mono-, bi- and multinucleated cells; the nuclear division index and chromosomal damage, determined by the presence of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges or nuclear buds of bi-nucleated cells.Ageing is positively associated with the frequency of cytogenetic biomarkers. The micronucleus frequency in females was significantly higher than the micronucleus frequency in males. The micronucleus frequency is positively associated with family history of cancer.Furthermore, it is positively correlated with smoking: the frequency is higher in male subjects with a smoking habit than in female smokers. However, alcohol is observed to decrease the frequency of apoptotic cells in human lymphocytes. The frequency of micronuclei was positively correlated with exposure to medication. Lastly, the frequency of nuclear buds and apoptotic and necrotic cells negatively correlated with exposure to radiation.