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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Quantification of Cytokine-Induced Cell Death in Human Colonic Organoids Using Live Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: August 2, 2024
In vitro approaches to evaluate palytoxin-induced toxicity and cell death in intestinal cells
I Valverde1, J Lago, J M Vieites
1ANFACO-CECOPESCA, Campus Univ de Vigo, Vigo 36310, Spain.
Abstract:
Palytoxin isolated from the genus Palythoa is the most potent marine toxin known. The aim of the present study was to quantify palytoxin-induced cellular injury in the human intestinal cell line Caco-2. Cellular damage was measured by evaluating cell proliferation, cell membrane permeability, cell morphology and apoptotic markers. Furthermore, changes in F-actin were studied after exposure of cells to increasing amounts of palytoxin. The results show that cell proliferation decreased in a concentration-dependent manner with a mean IC(50) value of about 0.1 nM. A noticeable increase of cell detachment correlated with cell rounding and F-actin depolymerization was observed in palytoxin-treated cells. Moreover LDH was released from the cells in a dose and time dependent manner, although under these conditions there was no propidium iodide uptake. On the other hand, palytoxin impaired mitochondrial activity but other apoptotic markers, such as DNA fragmentation or caspases activation, were not observed. The results obtained in this paper suggest that the effects of palytoxin in Caco-2 cells were very potent and unspecific, since a primary necrosis and a secondary apoptosis seem to occur under these conditions.
Insights
Palytoxin, a potent marine toxin, causes significant cellular injury in human intestinal cells (Caco-2). It induces cell death and disrupts cell structure, highlighting its toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Toxicology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Palytoxin, derived from Palythoa, is recognized as the most potent marine toxin.
- Understanding its effects on human cells is crucial for assessing health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify palytoxin-induced cellular injury in the human intestinal cell line Caco-2.
- To investigate the mechanisms of palytoxin toxicity at the cellular level.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cell proliferation, membrane permeability, morphology, and apoptotic markers in Caco-2 cells.
- Analyzed changes in F-actin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release.
- Evaluated mitochondrial activity and DNA fragmentation.
Main Results:
- Palytoxin significantly reduced cell proliferation (IC50 ≈ 0.1 nM) in a dose-dependent manner.
- Observed cell detachment, rounding, F-actin depolymerization, and LDH release.
- Palytoxin impaired mitochondrial activity but did not induce significant DNA fragmentation or caspase activation.
Conclusions:
- Palytoxin exhibits potent and unspecific cytotoxic effects on Caco-2 cells.
- The observed cellular damage suggests a primary necrosis followed by secondary apoptosis.
