Citotossica

Citotossica refers to a substance or process that is toxic to cells. This toxicity can manifest in various ways, leading to cell damage, dysfunction, or ultimately, cell death. The term originates from the Greek words "kytos" meaning cell and "toxikon" meaning poison.

Many substances can exhibit citotoxic properties. These include certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer, which are designed to kill rapidly dividing cells. Environmental toxins, like heavy metals or pesticides, can also be citotoxic, interfering with cellular processes and causing harm. Some natural compounds produced by organisms, like venoms or bacterial toxins, are inherently citotoxic and are used for defense or predation.

The mechanisms of citotoxicity are diverse. Some agents directly damage cellular structures, such as the cell membrane or DNA. Others interfere with essential metabolic pathways, disrupting energy production or protein synthesis. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a controlled form of cell elimination that can be triggered by citotoxic stimuli, while necrosis is a more uncontrolled form of cell death resulting from severe injury. Understanding citotoxicity is crucial in fields like medicine, toxicology, and environmental science for developing treatments, assessing risks, and understanding biological processes.