Cytotoxicity of chlorpyrifos to human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells: effects on mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular free Ca²⁺

Abstract

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is all known as an organophosphate pesticide that is broadly used in agriculture, and their residual is harmful to human health. A few reports proved that CPF can cause cytotoxicity to a variety of human cell lines; however, little is known about its effects on human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). In this study, we attempt to assess the cytotoxicity of CPF to HepG2 cell line using MTT assay, plasma permeability assay, nuclear morphology observation, mitochondrial transmembrane potential assay, and the Annexin V-FITC assay. MTT assays of cell metabolic activity indicated that there was a dose-dependent relationship between cell viability and CPF concentration, and found out the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) was 886.53 µM. Our results also revealed that CPF-exposure induced morphological changes of the cell nucleus, an increase both in intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration and plasma membrane potential, a decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and slightly apoptosis in HepG2 cells. We propose that CPFs lead to cytotoxicity of HepG2 cell by alteration of plasma membrane potential and the mitochondrial permeability.

Keywords:

• Chlorpyrifos
• HepG2
• cytotoxicity
• mitochondrial membrane potential
• intracellular Ca²⁺

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31472285) and the Innovation Scientists and Technicians Troop Construction Projects of Henan Province, China (Grant No. 164200510001).