High Concentrations of Aspartame Induce Pro-Angiogenic Effects in Ovo and Cytotoxic Effects in HT-29 Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

Aspartame (ASP), an artificial sweetener abundantly consumed in recent years in an array of dietary products, has raised some concerns in terms of toxicity, and it was even suggested a link with the risk of carcinogenesis (colorectal cancer), though the present scientific data are rather inconclusive. This study aims at investigating the potential role of aspartame in colorectal cancer by suggesting two experimental approaches: (i) an in vitro cytotoxicity screening in HT-29 human colorectal carcinoma cells based on cell viability (Alamar blue assay), cell morphology and cell migration (scratch assay) assessment and (ii) an in ovo evaluation in terms of angiogenic and irritant potential by means of the chorioallantoic membrane method (CAM). The in vitro results showed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect, with a significant decrease of viable cells at the highest concentrations tested (15, 30 and 50 mM) and morphological cellular changes. In ovo, aspartame (15 and 30 mM) proved to have a pro-angiogenic effect and a weak irritant potential at the vascular level. These data suggest new directions of research regarding aspartame’s role in colorectal cancer.

Assessment of Betulinic Acid Cytotoxicity and Mitochondrial Metabolism Impairment in a Human Melanoma Cell Line

“…The images were taken at 24 h post-treatment and were analyzed using the cellSens Dimensions v.1.8. Software (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) as described previously [ 60 , 61 ].…”

Oleogel Formulations for the Topical Delivery of Betulin and Lupeol in Skin Injuries—Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation

“…At the end of the treatment, 20 µL of Alamar Blue reagent were added in each well, followed by the absorbance measurements at 570 and 600 nm using a xMark™ Microplate Spectrophotometer (BioRad Laboratories, Inc., Thermo Fischer Scientific, Carlsbad, CA, USA). The cellular viability percentages were calculated according to the formula described in a previous study [ 69 ].…”

Two Antibiotics, Ampicillin and Tetracycline, Exert Different Effects in HT-29 Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells in Terms of Cell Viability and Migration Capacity

“…In the light of these data, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential toxic effects of two broad-spectrum and frequently prescribed antibiotics, tetracycline, and ampicillin, respectively, in vitro, using the colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) as experimental model to assess their impact on cell viability and morphology, and migratory capacity and in ovo by applying HET-CAM assay for the evaluation of the irritant potential at vascular level. The selection of HT-29 cells as in vitro experimental model for the present study was based on the following arguments: (1) HT-29 cells represent one of the most common 2D in vitro models used in the studies of colorectal carcinoma [ 29 ]; (2) these cells have the capacity to keep their cellular properties unaltered even after 100 passages in culture [ 30 ]; and (3) HT-29 cells present a complex mutational status characterized by chromosomal instability phenotype and harbor multiple mutated genes with critical roles in cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation that define the oncogenic potential, the aggressiveness of the cancer cells, as well as the response to treatment, genes as KRAS wild-type, BRAF, PIK3CA , and TP53 [ 29 , 31 , 32 ].…”