title: Study on the cytotoxicity of microcystin-LR on cultured cells.
abstract: The toxicity of purified blue-green algal toxin, microcystin-LR, on permanent cell lines KB, NIH/3T3, H-4-II-E, HeLa, Vero, Hep G2, Caco-2 and HL-60 was studied. Assessment of cell viability using colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays indicated that purified microcystin-LR induced toxic effect on KB and H-4-II-E cell lines after 96 h incubation at toxin concentrations greater than 18.75 microg/ml. KB cell line was selected for further study when reproducibility, consistency and sensitivity were considered. Significant amounts of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were released from KB cells when incubation durations were 72 and 96 h with toxin concentrations of 18.75 microg/ml and higher. Although previous studies suggested that microcystin-LR had no cytotoxic effect on permanent cell lines, LDH release assay performed on KB cells indicated that exposure to microcystin-LR could result in damage to the cell membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, Centre for Environmental Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005068:Eutrophication; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C057862:cyanoginosin LR; C022616:thiazolyl blue