The comet assay is widely used in studies on genotoxicity testing, human biomonitoring and clinical studies. The simple version of the assay detects a mixture of DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites; these lesions are typically described as DNA strand breaks to distinguish them from oxidatively damaged DNA that are measured with the enzyme-modified comet assay. This review assesses the association between high-prevalence diseases in high-income countries and DNA damage measured with the comet assay in humans. The majority of case-control studies have assessed genotoxicity in white blood cells. Patients with coronary artery disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Alzheimer's disease have on average 2-fold higher levels of DNA strand breaks compared with healthy controls. Patients with coronary artery disease, diabetes, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also have 2- to 3-fold higher levels of oxidatively damaged DNA in white blood cells than controls, although there is not a clear difference in DNA damage levels between the different diseases. Case-control studies have shown elevated levels of DNA strand breaks in patients with breast cancer, whereas there are only few studies on colorectal and lung cancers. At present, it is not possible to assess if these neoplastic diseases are associated with a different level of DNA damage compared with non-neoplastic diseases.

中文翻译：

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用彗星测定法测量高流行性疾病中DNA的损伤：现状和未来方向。

彗星测定法广泛用于遗传毒性测试，人体生物监测和临床研究。该测定法的简单形式可检测到DNA链断裂和碱不稳定位点的混合物。这些损伤通常被描述为DNA链断裂，以将其与用酶修饰的彗星测定法测量的氧化损伤DNA区别开。这篇综述评估了高收入国家的高流行性疾病与人类彗星试验测定的DNA损伤之间的关联。大多数病例对照研究已经评估了白细胞的遗传毒性。与健康对照组相比，患有冠状动脉疾病，糖尿病，肾脏疾病，慢性阻塞性肺疾病和阿尔茨海默氏病的患者的DNA链断裂平均水平高2倍。冠状动脉疾病，糖尿病，肾脏疾病和慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的白细胞氧化损伤DNA水平也比对照组高2至3倍，尽管不同患者之间的DNA损伤水平没有明显差异疾病。病例对照研究表明，乳腺癌患者的DNA链断裂水平升高，而关于结直肠癌和肺癌的研究很少。目前，与非肿瘤性疾病相比，尚无法评估这些肿瘤性疾病是否与不同程度的DNA损伤有关。尽管不同疾病之间的DNA损伤水平没有明显差异。病例对照研究表明，乳腺癌患者的DNA链断裂水平升高，而关于结直肠癌和肺癌的研究很少。目前，与非肿瘤性疾病相比，尚无法评估这些肿瘤性疾病是否与不同程度的DNA损伤有关。尽管不同疾病之间的DNA损伤水平没有明显差异。病例对照研究表明，乳腺癌患者的DNA链断裂水平升高，而关于结直肠癌和肺癌的研究很少。目前，与非肿瘤性疾病相比，尚无法评估这些肿瘤性疾病是否与不同程度的DNA损伤有关。