Toxic Effects of Chromium Acetate Hydroxide on Cells Cultivated In Vitro

Abstract

Many human activities, particularly industrial ones, result in an ever-growing production of toxic waste materials. The dynamics of the toxic effects of chromium acetate hydroxide, which is found in high concentrations in a waste sediment produced in the Czech Republic, were assessed by using a battery of in vitro tests carried out on two cell lines: L-929 (mouse fibroblasts) and Hep 2 (human laryngeal cells). Various markers of cell damage were assessed by phase-contrast, video and fluorescence microscopy, fluorometry, and DNA analysis. Chromium acetate hydroxide, over a concentration range of 1–0.02mol/l induced immediate cell death by fixation, whereas, at 0.002mol/l, the treated cells died in a much slower, more discrete manner. All the detected markers of cell damage, whether immediate or slow, clearly demonstrated that the cells died by necrosis. On the other hand, test concentration of 0.001mol/l appeared to constitute a threshold at which no pathological changes of Hep 2 cells were observed over 96 hours. We conclude that chromium acetate hydroxide has a high toxic potential in vitro, which should be considered when studying the toxicity of waste materials containing it.

Chromium (III) Produces Distinct Type of Cell Death in Cultured Cells

“…In our previous work we showed that chromium acetate hydroxide at common concentration range found in industrially generated wastes is capable of inducing cell death in Hep-2 cells (18). The speed and nature of this process depend on the employed concentration as higher doses induced quick changes resulting in fixation while lower doses produced slower death bearing the features of necrosis; i.e.…”

“…Once inside the cell, Cr (III) ions may interact with various targets including microfilaments, mitochondria, lysosomes and nucleus or interfere with intracellular signaling pathways by inducing oxidative stress. The final outcome is often necrosis but there are reports about apoptosis as well (4,18,22).…”

“…In our previous work we have shown that this compound has at higher concentration range significant toxic potential which causes immediate cell death by fixation or slower necrosis. In addition, short term testing revealed dose-dependent activity of chromium acetate hydroxide where a limit concentration seemed to be 1 mM which tested negative during 4 days lasting treatment (18).…”

Copper oxide nanoparticles induce oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in airway epithelial cells

“…In particular, we investigated the intrinsic ability of silicon oxide, ferric oxide and copper (II) oxide nanoparticles to decrease cell viability and generate oxidative stress in respiratory epithelial cells. Human laryngeal epithelial cells (HEp-2) were chosen, since they are used in many pulmonary toxicological assays (Rudolf et al ., 2001; Kvolik et al ., 2005) and represent target cells which are usually subjected to significant amounts of airborne particles.…”

In vitro and in vivo assessment of pulmonary risk associated with exposure to combustion generated fine particles

“…Human laryngeal epithelial cells (HEp-2) were chosen, since they are used in many pulmonary toxicological assays (Rudolf et al , 2001; Kvolik et al , 2005) and represent target cells which are usually subjected to significant amounts of airborne particles. For the evaluation of the in vivo effects of an EPFR, we employed neonatal rats, which unlike adults, have immature lungs characterized by saccular structure, thick alveolar walls, inadequate pulmonary capillary network and limited gas-exchange capabilities and are very sensitive to air pollutants (HSIA et al , 2004).…”