title: On the cytotoxicity of some microbial volatile organic compounds as studied in the human lung cell line A549.
abstract: The cytotoxicity of 13 microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) was studied using a human lung carcinoma epithelial cell line A549 in a colony formation assay and two colorimetric assays: the microculture tetrazolium assay (MTT assay) and the cellular protein assay (methylene blue-MB assay). For comparison, two known cytotoxic substances: the non-volatile mycotoxin gliotoxin and the mono-functional alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) were studied. Concentration-response curves for each agent were established and the IC50 value (concentration resulting in 50% inhibition of colony growth or absorbance) was estimated. There are differences in toxicity levels between the MVOC tested and gliotoxin and MMS. The most toxic MVOC was 1-decanol which was as effective as MMS in all test systems. 1-decanol was about 10-fold more toxic than the other MVOC. All MVOC tested were more than 1000-fold less toxic than gliotoxin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University of Ulm, Germany. ludwika.kreja@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Ludwika
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kreja
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Seidel
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000633:toxicity; D005912:Gliotoxin / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate / Q000633:toxicity; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D009183:Mycotoxins; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D005912:Gliotoxin; C029383:n-decyl alcohol; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate; D008751:Methylene Blue