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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
Assessing Cell Viability and Death in 3D Spheroid Cultures of Cancer Cells
Published on: June 16, 2019
Ibuprofen and diclofenac differentially affect cell viability, apoptosis and morphology changes of human
Ratana Leksomboon1, Kamonrot Kumpangnil1
1College of Medicine and Public Health, Biomedical Sciences, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
Objectives:
Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant biliary epithelial duct neoplasm caused by chronic inflammation after liver fluke infection. It is a major public health concern in the Greater Mekong sub-region in northeast Thailand. Herein, the effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ibuprofen and diclofenac on the cell proliferation activity of the human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines KKU-M139 and KKU-213B were studied.
Methods:
Cell viability was assessed with MTT assays. Inverted phase-contrast light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the cells' morphological alterations. Caspase 3/7 and Annexin V/PI were detected with a multimode microplate reader.
Results:
Ibuprofen and diclofenac decreased viability in both cell lines, and ibuprofen-treated cells exhibited reversible cell injury. In both KKU-M139 and KKU-213B cell lines, the diclofenac-treated cells had the greatest injury. The cells exhibited features of irreversible cell injury. In addition, caspase 3/7 and Annexin V/PI detection revealed early cell apoptotic characteristics.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that NSAIDs may potentially suppress cell viability. Ibuprofen and diclofenac both induced morphological changes and apoptosis.
