The cytotoxicity of jet fuel aromatic hydrocarbons and dose-related interleukin-8 release from human epidermal keratinocytes

Abstract

Many jet fuel aromatic hydrocarbons are known carcinogens with the ability to both readily penetrate the skin with high absorptive flux and cause skin irritation. In order to evaluate the in vitro cutaneous toxicity of individual aromatic hydrocarbons in jet fuels and their potential for inducing skin irritation, we evaluated the LD(50), the highest non-cytotoxic (5% mortality) dose (HNTD), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) release activity of nine major jet fuel aromatic hydrocarbons in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK). LD(50) ranged from 1.8 mM (0.03%) for cyclohexylbenzene to 82.9 mM (0.74%) for benzene, with a rank order potency of cyclohexylbenzene >trimethylbenzene >/=xylene >dimethylnaphthalene >ethylbenzene >toluene >benzene. The HNTD values ranged from 0.1 mM (0.001%) for cyclohexylbenzene to 48.2 mM (0.43%) for benzene. Naphthalene and methylnaphthalene could not be ranked in this comparison since their concentrations, presented as percentage saturation, were not comparable to the others presented as solutes in solution. There was a dose-related differential response in IL-8 release at 24 h. Toluene, xylene, trimethylbenzene, cyclohexylbenzene and dimethylnaphthalene significantly decreased IL-8 release at the respective HNTDs, while IL-8 release did not continue to decrease, or significantly increased (cyclohexylbenzene and dimethylnaphthalene), at the LD(50). IL-8 significantly increased with both doses of methylnaphthalene and naphthalene. The presence of hexadecane and mineral oil greatly attenuated the cytotoxicity elicited by individual aromatic hydrocarbons in HEK cells.

Set-up of a dynamic in vitro exposure device for the study of indoor air pollutant effects on human derived cells

“…Further exposure experiments with different concentrations of toluene and benzene have to be worked out for validating this hypothesis. In addition, we demonstrated the ability of toluene and benzene to induce an inflammatory response (IL-8 stimulation), according to data reported in literature [7,8].…”

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity caused by yttrium oxide nanoparticles in HEK293 cells

“…To investigate this possibility, the well-characterized human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell line was chosen as a test system, given the widespread use of these cells to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of chemicals. 12 Other, more recent reports demonstrate the use of these cells for investigating the potential toxicity of nanoparticles. [13][14][15][16] Andelman et al examined the effects of exposure to different types of Y 2 O 3 NPs on human foreskin fibroblast cells and demonstrated a concentration-dependent (25-500 µg/mL) cytotoxicity by live/dead cell assay.…”

Biomolecular Profiling of Jet Fuel Toxicity Using Proteomics

“…Jet fuel exposure in various types of cultured cells is associated with biological effects that include cytotoxicity, cytokine release, DNA damage, and oxidative stress, indicating the toxic and pro-inflammatory nature of JP-8 and its components [5][6][7][8]. In human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK), 0.1% JP-8 in the culture medium has been shown to cause an inflammatory response [9] as have individual neat aliphatic hydrocarbons similarly exposed to HEK [5,6].…”

“…In human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK), 0.1% JP-8 in the culture medium has been shown to cause an inflammatory response [9] as have individual neat aliphatic hydrocarbons similarly exposed to HEK [5,6]. In vitro exposure to JP-8 also has been shown to alter the expression of members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins that play a major role in both apoptosis and necrosis.…”