Protective effects of vitamins C and E on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-induced genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in human liver cells

Dichlorodiphenoxytrichloroethane (DDT), a persistent organic pollutant and hepatotoxicant, is used to control the malaria. However, scarce information exists on relevant effective inhibitors of DDT’ toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate protective effects of natural antioxidants vitamin C (VC) or/and vitamin E (VE) on p,p′-DDT-induced genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in human liver cells. p,p′-DDT exposure increased levels of chromatin condensation, comet parameter, micronucleus induction and DPC co-efficient of HL-7702 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Also, an increase in mRNA levels of CYP1A1 as well as CYP3A4, and a decrease in UGT along with GST were observed. Interestingly, supplementation with VC or/and VE prevented p,p′-DDT-caused alterations in DNA damage and phase metabolism gene expressions, and the combination of VC and VE had a more protective effect than VC or VE alone. These findings illustrated that VC or/and VE could be beneficial for the alleviation of p,p′-DDT-incurred toxicity in human liver cells.