Co-exposure of monocrotophos and ethanol synergistically induced cytotoxicity in keratinocytes and alveolar epithelium cells

Objectives To compare the effects of MCP and ethanol co-exposure on cytotoxicity in nourished and malnourished keratinocytes and lung alveolar epithelial cells. Methods Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell cycle analysis, and micronuclei assays were performed on A549 and HaCaT cells after co-treatment with MCP and ethanol. The MCP and Ethonal interaction coefficients were used to categorize the interactions as synergistic, additive, or antagonistic. Results MCP-100 mu M and Eth-100 mM Co-exposure elicited ROS 41.7% in A549, 45.6% in HaCaT, and half in independent exposure. These cells under serum-deprived conditions exhibited ROS 48.2% in A549 serum deprived medium (SD) and 52.8% in HaCaT (SD). MCP-100 mu M and Eth- 100 mM exposure resulted in G0 arrest at 19.0% in A549 and 31.68% in HaCaT in complete medium, while it was 36.96% in the serum-deprived condition in A549 and 43.81% HaCaT cells. The co-concentration of MCP-100 mu M + Eth-100 mM shown a significant (p < 0.001) increase in micronuclei in A549 (28.60%) and HaCaT (31.42%) cells under complete nutrient conditions. However, the same exposure under serum-deprived conditions exhibited micronuclei formation (37.90%) in A549 and (42.84%) in HaCaT cells, respectively. Conclusion The present study revealed that MCP and ethanol co-exposure synergistically induced cytotoxicity in the skin and lung epithelial cells under nutrient-deprived conditions.