Abstract: Objective Study the genotoxic effect of formaldehyde on BM-MSCs, thus will provides the biological evidence for the formaldehyde to lead to leukemia. Methods Proliferation activity was measured by MTT assay; Genotoxic effect was detected by comet assay, KCl-SDS precipitation assay, sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test and micronucleus (MN) test. Results 75~200 μmol/L formaldehyde can inhibit the BM-MSCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01); DNA strand breakage increased gradually at increasing concentrations below 125 μmol/L, however, when formaldehyde concentration was over 125 μmol/L, DNA strand breakage decreased. There were significant rises in 75~150 μmol/L formaldehyde groups compared with control group (P<0.01); Induction of DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs), SCE and MN in ≥125 μmol/L formaldehyde groups were significant higher than in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Formaldehyde can inhibite the BM-MSCs proliferation activity, and have a genotoxic effect on the BM - MSCs.

Key words: formaldehyde, BM-MSCs, genotoxicity