title: A cell-based sensor system for toxicity testing using multiwavelength fluorescence spectroscopy.
abstract: A novel cell-based fluorometric sensor system for toxicity monitoring is described, which uses functional spontaneously contracting cardiomyocytes (HL-1 cell line) as the biological recognition element. Based on these highly specialized cells, it has the potential of providing a sensitive and relevant analytical in vitro toxicity testing method. The system was configured by propagating the surface-attaching HL-1 cardiomyocytes in the wells of a 96-well microtiter plate and connecting the plate via an optical fiber to a fluorescence spectrometer capable of excitation-emission matrix scanning. The fluorescence data were analyzed using a conventional spectral analysis software program. The performance of the system for detection of general cytotoxicity to the cells was evaluated using three well-known drugs: verapamil, quinidine, and acetaminophen. The dose-response curves were assessed and the EC(50) values were determined (0.10+/-0.007, 0.23+/-0.025, and 12.32+/-2.40 mM, respectively). Comparison with in vitro and in vivo reference data for the drugs showed good correlations, suggesting that this cell-based sensor system could be a useful tool in pharmacological in vitro drug testing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biotechnology/IFM, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fritzsche
authors.forename: J Magnus
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fredriksson
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: Carl-Fredrik
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Mandenius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*