Use of cell culture in monitoring toxicity and in the investigation of anti-tumoral compounds: evaluation of cell death

• Grant number: 04/09112-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: May 01, 2005
• End date: October 31, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Patrícia da Silva Melo
• Grantee: Patrícia da Silva Melo
• Company: STQ Comércio e Serviços de Tecnologia Química Ltda
• City: São Paulo

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to evaluate the cytotoxicity of xenobiotics, chemical and natural compounds, medicines, products used in the cosmetics industry and the effluents in the paper and textile industries subjected or not to treatments aimed at detoxification on several cellular models: the culture of V79 cells, leucemic cell lines and the primary cultures of hepatocytes isolated from fish and rats. Analysis of the viability in V79, leucemic and hepatocytes cells, will be carried out by means of usual toxicity indicators, such as: reduction of the MTT, incorporation of neutral red, tripan-blue exclusion and quantification of nucleic acids. In the hepatocytes, in addition to the tests mentioned, the activity of the metabolization system of xenobiotics (cytochrome P450 and conjugases) will be evaluated, given that the liver is recognized to be the main place for biotransformation. Keeping in mind the application and the characteristics of different cellular types in toxicity evaluations, this project will have, therefore, as an overall objective the monitoring of the degree of toxicological compromise using, for this, models of cell cultures and cytotoxicity tests, evaluating the induction of cell death by apoptosis and measurement of enzymatic activities of the hepatic detoxification system. (AU)