Comparison of the toxicity of pure compounds and commercial formulations of imidacloprid and acetamiprid on HT-29 cells: Single and mixture exposure

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2021-09, Vol.155, p.112430, Article 112430
• Main Authors: Baysal, Merve, Atlı-Eklioğlu, Özlem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; DNA damage; DNA Damage - drug effects; Drug Combinations; HT-29 cell line; HT29 Cells; Humans; Insecticides - toxicity; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Mixture toxicity; Neonicotinoids; Neonicotinoids - toxicity; Nitro Compounds - toxicity; Oxidative stress
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112430

Neonicotinoids, which are widely used worldwide, including in Turkey, are an insecticide group that are synthetic derivatives of nicotine. Recently, they have attracted attention due to their toxic effects on non-target organisms, especially bees. Numerous studies have shown that neonicotinoids have been found in detectable levels in the environment and cause various undesirable effects on living organisms, including humans and other mammals. In this study, the possible toxic effects of imidacloprid and acetamiprid, commonly used neonicotinoids, are investigated by their pure forms and commercial formulations on HT-29 cells with individual and combined exposures. According to our results, imidacloprid and acetamiprid induced cytotoxicity by caspase-mediated apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, DNA damage, and oxidative stress under these experimental conditions. It is worth mentioning low doses of DNA damage, mixture exposure causes toxic effects at lower concentrations than individual exposure, and formulation groups are at the forefront of toxicity formation, though this varies depending on the parameters. [Display omitted] •Imidacloprid (IMI) and acetamiprid (ACM) can cause DNA damage in HT-29 cells at low concentrations.•IMI and ACM may induce apoptosis by inducing caspase 3/7 levels and decreasing MMP in HT-29 cells.•IMI and ACM may lead to lipid peroxidation at high concentrations in HT-29 cells by causing oxidative imbalance.•This study generally shows that IMI and ACM induce toxicity when combined exposure occurs in HT-29 cells.