Title:Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity and Apoptotic Induction in Human Liver Cell Lines Exposed to Three Food Additives
VOLUME: 11 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Ingy M. El-Hefny*, Neima K. Al Senosy, Walaa G. Hozayen, Amr E. Ahmed, Ayman Diab and Wesam T. Basal
Affiliation:Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, (MSA), Wahat Road, 6th of October City, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shubra el-Kheima, Beni-Suef University, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef University, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Beni-Suef, Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, (MSA), Wahat Road, 6th of October City, Cairo University, Faculty of Science, Giza
Keywords:Cytotoxic, genotoxic, cell cycle arrest, real-time PCR, cell lines, food additives.
Abstract:
Background: Rapid lifestyle, especially among people living in urban areas, has led to
increasing reliance on the processed food market. Unfortunately, harmful effects caused by the excessive
use of food additives in such type of industry are often neglected.
Objective: This proposal investigates in vitro cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of three food preservatives
commonly consumed in daily meals; sodium sulphite, boric acid, and benzoic acid.
Methods: The effect of the three preservatives on cell viability was tested on two different cell
lines; normal liver cell line THLE2 and human hepatocellular carcinoma cancer cell line HepG2
using MTT assay. Cell cycle arrest was measured using flow cytometry by propidium iodide.
Measurement of expression levels of two central genes, p53 and bcl-2 that play key roles in cell cycle
and apoptosis was carried out in HepG2 cells using real time-PCR.
Results: Although the effect was more significantly realized in the HepG2 cell line, the viability of
both cell lines was decreased by all of the three tested compounds. Flow cytometric analysis of
HepG2 cells treated with sodium sulphite, boric acid, and benzoic acid has revealed an increase in
G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. In Sodium sulphite and boric acid-treated cells, expression levels of
p53 were up-regulated, while that of the Bcl2 was significantly down-regulated. On the other hand,
Benzoic acid has shown an anti-apoptotic feature based on the increased expression levels of Bcl-2
in treated cells.
Conclusion: In conclusion, all of the tested compounds have decreased the cell line viability and
induced both cell cycle arrest and apoptotic events indicating their high potential of being cytotoxic
and genotoxic materials.
