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

Abstract

Antibiotics are considered the cornerstone of modern medicine; however, currently, antibiotic resistance has become a global health issue. Antibiotics also find new uses in the treatment of other pathologies as well as cancer. The present study aimed to verify the impact of tetracycline and ampicillin in a colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29. The effects of the two antibiotics on cell viability and nucleus were evaluated by the means of MTT assay and the Hoechst staining method, respectively. The irritant potential at vascular level of the chorioallantoic membrane was tested by the HET-CAM assay. Treatment of HT-29 cells with the two antibiotics determined different effects: (i) tetracycline induced a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect characterized by decreased cell viability, changes in cells morphology, apoptotic features (nuclear fragmentation), and inhibition of cellular migration, whereas (ii) ampicillin exerted a biphasic response—cytotoxic at low doses and proliferative at high concentrations. In terms of effect on blood vessels, both antibiotics exerted a mild irritant effect. These results are promising and could be considered as starting point for further in vitro studies to define the molecular mechanisms involved in the cytotoxic/proliferative effects.

Toxicological Assessment of an Acrylic Removable Orthodontic Appliance Using 2D and 3D In Vitro Methods

“…The cytotoxic effect of ARA was assessed by means of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assay according to the technique described above [ 36 ]. In brief, HaCaT cells were seeded in 96-well plates (1 × 10 4 cells/well) and treated for 24 h and 72 h with five dilutions (1:16, 1:8, 1:4, 1:2, 1:1) of the three types of saliva in which ARA was kept.…”

Infections in Hospitalized Cancer Patients

“…Ampicillin is another antibiotic that has received some attention for its potential anticancer effects. In vitro studies have suggested ampicillin in various combinations may have an antitumor effect in colorectal cancer and irritating effects at a vascular level [ 99 , 100 ]. While some studies suggest that the aforementioned tetracycline increase metastatic potential, others show this antibiotic has dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects [ 100 ].…”

“…In vitro studies have suggested ampicillin in various combinations may have an antitumor effect in colorectal cancer and irritating effects at a vascular level [ 99 , 100 ]. While some studies suggest that the aforementioned tetracycline increase metastatic potential, others show this antibiotic has dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects [ 100 ]. In colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29, tetracycline has decreased cell viability and inhibited cell migration [ 100 ].…”

“…While some studies suggest that the aforementioned tetracycline increase metastatic potential, others show this antibiotic has dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects [ 100 ]. In colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29, tetracycline has decreased cell viability and inhibited cell migration [ 100 ]. Overall, in vitro studies will serve as the basis for further exploring the interactions between antibiotics and cancer therapies as well as the anticancer effects of some antibiotics.…”

Phytochemical Analysis and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity against Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells of Hippophae rhamnodies L., Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf, and Ocimum basilicum L. Essential Oils

“…Before and five minutes after the application of the samples, photographs of the membrane were taken using Axio CAM 105 color, Zeiss, and these were then processed using ImageJ v 1.50e program (US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Finally, the irritating effect was quantified by applying the mathematical formula previously described by Batista-Duharte [49] and applied in our previous studies [50].…”