sytotoksisitet

Cytotoxicity refers to the quality or state of being toxic to cells. It is a fundamental concept in toxicology and cell biology, describing the ability of a substance or agent to damage or kill cells. This damage can manifest in various ways, including disruption of cellular processes, DNA damage, or the induction of programmed cell death, known as apoptosis.

Many substances can exhibit cytotoxic effects. These can include chemical agents like certain drugs, environmental toxins, and natural compounds found in plants and animals. Physical agents such as radiation and extreme temperatures can also induce cytotoxicity. In a biological context, the immune system employs cytotoxic cells, like cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, to eliminate infected or cancerous cells.

The degree of cytotoxicity is often measured by the concentration of a substance required to kill a certain percentage of cells in a population, commonly expressed as an LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of a test population) or EC50 (effective concentration for 50% of a response). Understanding cytotoxicity is crucial for drug development, environmental safety assessments, and comprehending disease mechanisms. While some cytotoxic agents are designed for therapeutic purposes, such as chemotherapy drugs targeting cancer cells, others are harmful and must be avoided. The impact of cytotoxicity is highly dependent on the cell type, the duration of exposure, and the concentration of the cytotoxic agent.