Cytotoxins are substances that have a toxic effect on cells, such as chemicals and snake venoms. They can cause cell death through necrosis or apoptosis, and are used in medicine to treat cancer. Some diseases produce their own cytotoxins, which can worsen the effects of the disease.
A cytotoxin is any substance that has a toxic effect on cells. The term cito is of Greek origin and refers to “a hollow container”. It is used as a preface when describing a biological cell. Some common examples of cytotoxins include chemicals and some snake venoms. Cytotoxins typically attack only a specific type of cell or organ, rather than an entire body.
Cells that have been affected by a cytotoxin can die in several ways. One is necrosis. In this form of cell death, cells lose integrity in the membrane wall and collapse. Another type of possible cell death is apoptosis. This type of death is preprogrammed into the cell itself before the cytotoxin arrives. It is typically a beneficial property, as seen when cells in the fingers and toes of developing human babies undergo apoptosis, leading to the separation of the digits.
When cytotoxic apoptosis occurs, a cell’s preprogrammed death sequence is activated prematurely. Once the sequence has started, there is no way to reverse it. The genetic process takes minutes or days, but cell death is inevitable. Necrosis usually accompanies apoptosis in its later stages.
Cytotoxic agents can also kill groups of cells by simply limiting their ability to grow, divide and reproduce. Although cytotoxins are often considered harmful substances, they are also used in medicine, particularly in the treatment of cancer. If the cancerous cells in a neoplasm, or tumor, are targeted with a cytotoxin, they will die at a much faster rate than healthy cells, due to their higher rate of reproduction. A cytotoxin applied in the right dosage at the right time can cure cancer with minimal harm to the patient. This form of cancer treatment is also known as chemotherapy, and it is due to the death of healthy cells, due to the administered cytotoxin, that such patients suffer from hair loss and reduced immune system function.
Some diseases also produce their own cytotoxins. Both diphtheria and scarlet fever generate toxins that worsen the effects of the disease. Left untreated, the cytotoxic process can progress to a stage where a patient may not recover, even if the original disease is cured. An example of a common cytotoxin is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is found in the stomach and duodenum. This bacterium breaks down urease in the stomach, which creates ammonia. This ammonia is toxic to the epithelial cells in the stomach and can lead to stomach ulcers and cancer.
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