In Vitro Investigation of the Effects of Octenidine Dihydrochloride on Nasal Septum Squamous Carcinoma Cells

TL;DR

This study tested how octenidine dihydrochloride affects cancer cells and healthy cells from nasal tissue in the lab, finding it harms healthy cells more and may help treat nasal conditions.

Contribution

The novel contribution is the in vitro evaluation of OCT-D's effects on nasal septum carcinoma cells and endothelial cells, revealing differential cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory potential.

Findings

OCT-D caused dose-dependent cytotoxicity with RPMI-2650 cells being more resistant than HUVECs.

OCT-D induced DNA damage and increased micronuclei in both cell lines.

OCT-D reduced cytokine levels and ROS production, supporting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects of the antiseptic agent octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT-D) on the RPMI-2650 cell line derived from human nasal mucosa in vitro. Methods: RPMI-2650 cells and Human Umbilical Cord Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) were treated with various concentrations of OCT-D (0.00625–0.4%) for 12 and 24 h. Cell viability was assessed using the WST-1 assay, while DNA damage was assessed using the comet and micronucleus (MN) assays. Apoptotic activity was determined using Annexin V flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured, and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression of genes associated with apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation was analyzed using RT-PCR. Results: OCT-D caused dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, and RPMI-2650 cells showed greater resistance compared to HUVECs. While a strong apoptotic response was observed in HUVECs, RPMI-2650 cells exhibited limited apoptosis. OCT-D was found to cause dose-dependent DNA damage and an increase in MN in both cell lines. OCT-D significantly reduced cytokine levels and ROS production in both cell types. RT-PCR results supported its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects at the molecular level. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that OCT-D exhibited minimal cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in RPMI-2650 cells, but affected vascular structure by inducing apoptosis in endothelial cells. These findings provide important evidence that OCT-D can be used as a potential adjunctive agent in nasal treatments, and these data need to be supported by preclinical and clinical studies.

Figures