What is cytotoxin?
cytotoxin is any substance that has a toxic effect on cells. The term cyto is of Greek origin and refers to the "hollow container". It is used as a preface in describing a biological cell. Common examples of cytotoxins include chemical agents and some snake one. Cytotoxins usually attack only a specific type of cell or organ, rather than the whole body.
cells that have been affected by cytotoxin can perish in several different ways. One is necrosis . In this form of cellular death, cells lose integrity in their membrane wall and collapse. Another type of possible death of cells is apoptosis . This type of death is pre -programmed to the cell itself before the arrival of cytotoxin. Usually it is a beneficial feature, as can be seen when cells in the fingers and feet of developing human children are subject to apoptosis, leading to the separation of numbers.
When cytotoxic apoptoses occurs. There is no way to reverse it after the sequence is started. The genetic process causesthat lasts minutes or days, but cell death is inevitable. Necrosis usually accompanies apoptosis in its later stages.
Cytotoxic agents can also kill cell clusters simply by limiting their growth, division and reproduction ability. Although cytotoxins are often considered harmful substances, they are also used in medicine, especially in the treatment of cancer. If cancer cells in Nerooplasm or tumor are focused on cytotoxin, they die at much faster speed than healthy cells, due to their higher reproduction speed. Cytotoxin applied at the right dose at the right time can cure cancer with minimal damage to the patient. This form of cancer treatment is also known as chemotherapy , and this is due to healthy cellular death, because of the cytotoxin administered, that supacients suffer from hair loss and reduced immune system function.
Some diseases also produceyour own cytotoxins. Difteria and scarlet fever generate toxins that worsen the effects of the disease. If it is not treated, the cytotoxic process can proceed to a phase in which the patient does not have to recover even if the original disease is cured. Examples of common cytotoxin are bacteria Helicobacter pylori found in the stomach and duodenum. This bacterium decomposes ureas found in the stomach that creates an ammonia. This ammonia is toxic to stomach epithelial cells and can lead to stomach ulcers and cancer.