The
2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (
TIBA) is an
iodine contrast agent used for visualization of tissue in X-ray techniques. However,
TIBA induces physiological complications like increase in
oxygen reactive species (ROS), and consequently, contrast-induced nephropathies.
TIBA's antitumor activity was demonstrated in
lung cancer, but the subcellular mechanisms involving its activity in
tumor cells are still unknown. Thus, the objective of this work was evaluate whether the anti-
tumor activity of
TIBA involves ROS increase, in
tumor lines of
non-small cell lung cancer (H460),
chronic myeloid leukemia (K562), and its cytotoxicity in normal renal epithelial (VERO). The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used for evaluation of cell viability, the
H2DCFDA (cell-permeant 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate)
fluorescent probe to evaluate ROS induction, cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry to measure cell death, and immunofluorescence with
annexin/7-AAD (7-amino-actinomycin D), to assess the association of cell death with the ROS generation.
TIBA decreases cell viability in a dose-dependent manner for the H460 and K562. However, VERO cells showed less response to the drug, with 70% viable cells after 72 h of treatment in the highest concentration of the drug. While the
tumor cells with only 20% viable cells. Besides,
tumor cells exhibited higher DNA fragmentation, compared to the renal line (VERO with 5% of fragmented
DNA, H460 with 26%, and 56% in K562). Finally,
TIBA-induced ROS increase and apoptosis in all lines, which is significantly decreased
after treatment with the
antioxidant N-acetyl-
cysteine (NAC). These data demonstrate the relationship between the increased cellular oxidative stress and the anti-
tumor action of the
TIBA.