Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Cells exposed to a cytotoxic compound can respond in a number of ways. The cells may undergo necrosis, in which they lose membrane integrity and die rapidly as a result of cell lysis; they can stop growing and dividing; or they can activate a genetic program of controlled cell death, termed apoptosis.
MEASURING CYTOTOXICITY
There are many ways to measure cytotoxicity, but most involve assessment of cell membrane integrity. Membrane integrity can be evaluated by using vital dyes (such as trypan blue or propidium iodide), by protease biomarkers, with MTT or MTS redox potential assays, or by measuring ATP content. Many of these assays involve colorimetric, fluorescence, or luminescence detection.
