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The effect of five artificial sweeteners on Caco-2, HT-29 and HEK-293 cells
1Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand , Parktown , South Africa.
Context:
Artificial sweeteners (AS) have been associated with tumor development (including colon cancer) in both animals and humans although evidence has been conflicting.
Objectives:
Additional research was thus conducted by studying the effects of 5 AS on the morphology, cell proliferation and DNA in cells by utilizing Caco-2, HT-29 (colon) and HEK-293 (kidney) cell lines.
Materials And Methods:
Cells were exposed to sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, sucralose and acesulfame-K (0-50 mM) and aspartame (0-35 mM) over 24, 48 and 72 hours. Morphological changes were presented photographically and % cell viability was determined by using the MTT cell viability assay. Possible DNA damage (comet assay) induced by the AS (0.1, 1 and 10 mM, treated for 24, 48 and 72 hours) was studied. The appearance of "comets" was scored from no damage to severe damage (0-4).
Results:
Cells became flatter and less well defined at higher AS concentrations (>10 mM). At concentrations >10 mM, decreased cell viability was noted with both increasing concentration and increasing incubation time for all cell lines tested. In general, HEK-293 cells seemed to be less affected then the colon cancer cells. Sucralose and sodium saccharin seemed to elicit the greatest degree of DNA fragmentation of all the sweeteners tested in all the cell lines used.
Discussion:
Morphological cell alterations, cell viability and DNA fragmentation seemed to be more in the colon cancer cells.
Conclusions:
Further studies have to be performed to clarify mechanisms involved causing these alterations in mammalian cells.
Insights
Artificial sweeteners may alter cell morphology and viability, with some, like sucralose and saccharin, causing DNA fragmentation, particularly in colon cancer cells. Further research is needed to understand these effects in mammalian cells.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Toxicology
- Cancer research
Background:
- Artificial sweeteners (AS) have been linked to tumor development, but evidence is conflicting.
- Previous studies suggest potential associations with colon cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of five artificial sweeteners on cell morphology, proliferation, and DNA.
- To utilize colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2, HT-29) and a kidney cell line (HEK-293) for comparative analysis.
Main Methods:
- Cells were exposed to various concentrations of sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, sucralose, acesulfame-K, and aspartame for 24, 48, and 72 hours.
- Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay.
- DNA damage was evaluated using the comet assay, scoring fragmentation from 0 to 4.
Main Results:
- Higher AS concentrations (>10 mM) led to flattened cells and reduced viability across all tested cell lines.
- HEK-293 cells showed less impact compared to colon cancer cells.
- Sucralose and sodium saccharin induced the most significant DNA fragmentation.
Conclusions:
- Artificial sweeteners can cause morphological changes, decreased cell viability, and DNA fragmentation.
- Colon cancer cells appear more susceptible to these effects than kidney cells.
- Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these alterations.
