Tsütotoksilisus

Tsütotoksilisus refers to the property of a substance or process to be toxic to cells. This toxicity can manifest in various ways, leading to cell damage or death. Cellular damage can occur through mechanisms such as membrane disruption, interference with essential cellular processes like DNA replication or protein synthesis, or the induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death). Many therapeutic agents, including chemotherapy drugs, exhibit tsütotoksilisus to eliminate rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, this also means that healthy, rapidly dividing cells in the body can be affected, leading to side effects. Environmental toxins and certain natural compounds can also display tsütotoksilisus. Researchers study tsütotoksilisus to understand disease mechanisms, develop new treatments, and assess the safety of various substances. The degree of tsütotoksilisus is dependent on the specific agent, the cell type, and the dose and duration of exposure.