Hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells as a model for investigating the effects of low concentrations of herbicide on cell structure and function
Abstract
Previous studies on mice fed genetically modified (GM) soybean demonstrated modifications of the mitochondrial functions and of the transcription/splicing pathways in hepatocytes. The cause(s) of these alterations could not be conclusively established but, since the GM soybean used is tolerant to glyphosate and was treated with the glyphosate-containing herbicide Roundup , the possibility exists that the effects observed may be due to herbicide residues. In order to verify this hypothesis, we treated HTC cells with 1-10mM Roundup and analysed cellular features by flow cytometry, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Under these experimental conditions, the death rate and the general morphology of HTC cells were not affected, as well as most of the cytoplasmic organelles. However, in HTC-treated cells, lysosome density increased and mitochondrial membranes modified indicating a decline in the respiratory activity. Moreover, nuclei underwent morpho-functional modifications suggestive of a decreased transcriptional/splicing activity. Although we cannot exclude that other factors than the presence of the herbicide residues could be responsible for the cellular modifications described in GM-fed mice, the concordance of the effects induced by low concentrations of Roundup on HTC cells suggests that the presence of Roundup residues could be one of the factors interfering with multiple metabolic pathways.
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This toxic effect was reproduced by the application of R herbicide directly to hepatocytes in culture.
“Furthermore, this toxic effect was reproduced by the application of R herbicide directly to hepatocytes in culture [15].”
From Republished study: long-term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerantgenetically modified maize (2014) · cites this paper as [15]
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- Authors
- Malatesta, M., Perdoni, F., Santin, G., Battistelli, S., Muller, S., & Biggiogera, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Verona (IT)
- University of Pavia (IT)
- University of Urbino (IT)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Malatesta, M.
- Venue
- Toxicology in Vitro
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-12
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1853-1860
- ISSN
- 0887-2333 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2152603056
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 7.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Toxicology in Vitro (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- BOA (University of Milano-Bicocca) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research information system (University of Urbino) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Genetically Modified Organisms Research
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Keywords
- Roundup, glyphosate, herbicide residues, transgenic soybean, hepatocyte cytotoxicity
- MeSH terms
- Glyphosate, Animals, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Flow Cytometry, Fluorescence, Glycine, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Herbicides, Liver Neoplasms, Lysosomes, Microscopy, Electron, Models, Biological, Pesticide Residues, Transcription, Genetic, Tumor Cells, Cultured, Cell Death, Mitochondrial Membranes, Rats
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