Cytotoxicity evaluation of ketoprofen found in pharmaceutical wastewater on HEK 293 cell growth and metabolism

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2020 Nov:80:103498. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103498. Epub 2020 Sep 17.

Abstract

Inefficient ketoprofen removal from pharmaceutical wastewater may negatively impact the ecosystem and cause detrimental risks to human health. This study was conducted to determine the cytotoxicity effects of ketoprofen on HEK 293 cell growth and metabolism, including cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) expression, at environmentally relevant concentrations. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated through the trypan blue test, DNS assay, MTT assay, and the expression ratio of the COX-1 gene. The results of this study show insignificant (p > 0.05) cytotoxic effects of ketoprofen on cell viability and cell metabolism. However, high glucose consumption rates among the treated cells cause an imitation of the Warburg effect, which is likely linked to the development of cancer cells. Apart from that, the upregulation of COX-1 expression among the treated cells indicates remote possibility of inflammation. Although no significant cytotoxic effects of ketoprofen were detected throughout this study, the effects of prolonged exposure of residual ketoprofen need to be evaluated in the future.

Keywords: COX-1 expression; Cell metabolism; Cytotoxic; HEK 293; Ketoprofen; Pharmaceutical wastewater.

MeSH terms

  • Carbohydrate Metabolism / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase 1 / genetics
  • Drug Industry
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Industrial Waste
  • Ketoprofen / toxicity*
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Wastewater
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Ketoprofen
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • PTGS1 protein, human