cytotoksisiksi

Cytotoksisiksi, which translates to "cytotoxic" in English, refers to a property or agent that is toxic or destructive to cells. This term is widely used in biology and medicine to describe substances or processes that can kill or damage living cells. Cytotoxic agents can act through various mechanisms, including direct damage to cellular components like DNA or cell membranes, or by triggering programmed cell death (apoptosis).

In the context of medicine, cytotoxic drugs are a class of chemotherapy agents used to treat cancer. These drugs work by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which are characteristic of tumors, and inducing their death. While effective against cancer, these drugs can also affect healthy, rapidly dividing cells in the body, leading to side effects such as hair loss, nausea, and a weakened immune system.

Beyond chemotherapy, cytotoxicity can also be a function of the immune system. Certain immune cells, like cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells, are specialized to identify and kill infected or cancerous cells. They achieve this by releasing cytotoxic molecules that induce apoptosis or membrane lysis in the target cells. Understanding cytotoxicity is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies, studying immune responses, and investigating the mechanisms of cell death.