Abstract
Pesticides have adverse effects on the cellular functionality, which may trigger myriad of health consequences. However, pesticides‐mediated toxicity in the endothelial cells (ECs) is still elusive. Hence, in this study, we have used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as a model to quantify the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of four pesticides (methomyl, carbaryl, metalaxyl, and pendimethalin). In the MTT assay, HUVECs exposed to methomyl, carbaryl, metalaxyl, and pendimethalin demonstrated significant proliferation inhibition only at higher concentrations (500 and 1000 μM). Likewise, neutral red uptake (NRU) assay also showed proliferation inhibition of HUVECs at 500 and 1000 μM by the four pesticides, confirming lysosomal fragility. HUVECs exposed to the four pesticides significantly increased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Comet assay and flow cytometric data exhibited DNA damage and apoptotic cell death in HUVECs after 24 h of exposure with methomyl, metalaxyl, carbaryl, and pendimethalin. This is a first study on HUVECs signifying the cytotoxic–genotoxic and apoptotic potential of carbamate insecticides (methomyl and carbaryl), fungicide (metalaxyl), and herbicide (pendimethalin). Overall, these pesticides may affect ECs functions and angiogenesis; nonetheless, mechanistic studies are warranted from the perspective of vascular biology using in vivo test models.
Four pesticides (methomyl, carbaryl, metalaxyl, pendimethalin) were studied for toxicological effects in HUVECs. MTT and NRU assays confirmed that above pesticides inhibit proliferation of cells at high concentrations (500 and 1000 μM), confirming their cytotoxicity. HUVECs exposed to four pesticides increased ROS in cells. Comet assay confirmed DNA damage in HUVECs upon treatment with four pesticides, validating their genotoxic potential. Consequently, all pesticides may adversely affect endothelial cells functionality, and act as putative vascular toxicants.