title: Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of chitooligosaccharides upon lymphocytes.
abstract: Two COS mixtures and a low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) were tested for potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity upon human lymphocytes. Genotoxicity was evaluated in vitro by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus and alkaline comet assays, while cytotoxicity was assessed by flow cytometry analysis. Our results suggest that COS do not exhibit any genotoxicity upon human lymphocytes, independently of MW or concentration. However, above 0.07mg/mL COS induced strong cytotoxic effects. According to the concentration used, such cytotoxicity will induce cell death, essentially by necrosis (>0.10mg/mL) and/or apoptosis (<0.10mg/mL). The level of necrosis/apoptosis induced by high COS concentrations, suggests a promising use as apoptosis inducers in specific cancer situations.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal. wangy1974@ujs.edu.cn
authors.forename: Joao C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bronze-da-Rocha
authors.forename: Oscar S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Manuela E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pintado
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Malcata
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D009153:Mutagens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D009153:Mutagens; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D048271:Chitosan