Background: Accurate assessment of drug cytotoxicity in vitro is essential for preclinical evaluation of anticancer agents. Methodological parameters such as cell density and solvent concentrations can significantly influence the reproducibility and reliability of cell-based assay results. Objective: This study aims to optimize cell seeding density and evaluate the cytotoxic effects of common solvents (DMSO and ethanol) on different cancer cell lines, complemented by in silico analysis to elucidate underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Six cancer cell lines (HepG2, Huh7, HT29, SW480, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231) were seeded at different densities to determine the optimal cell seeding number ideal for cell viability assay at 24, 48, and 72 h. The cytotoxicity of DMSO and ethanol was assessed in these cell lines using an MTT assay at multiple time points. In silico docking studies were conducted to investigate the interactions between solvents and key proteins involved in apoptosis, membrane function, and metabolism. Results: A cell density of 2000 cells per well yielded consistent linear viability across cell lines and time points. DMSO at 0.3125% showed minimal cytotoxicity across all cell lines (except MCF-7) and time points; the cytotoxic effect at higher concentrations is variable depending on cell type and exposure duration. Ethanol exhibited rapid and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, reducing viability by more than 30% at as low as 0.3125% concentration after 24 h. Docking analyses revealed that DMSO binds specifically to apoptotic and membrane proteins, suggesting a role in inducing apoptosis. In contrast, ethanol primarily interacts with metabolic proteins, consistent with its effect on membrane disruption and rapid cell death. Conclusion: DMSO at 0.3125% is a good choice as a solvent since it has low toxicity in most tested cell lines; however, the safe concentration limit is dependent on cell type and exposure duration. Ethanol exhibited higher cytotoxicity, necessitating careful concentration management. The in silico analysis supports these findings, indicating that DMSO interacts with apoptosis-related proteins, whereas ethanol primarily affects metabolic processes. These results highlight the importance of precise cell density optimization and solvents for reliable cytotoxicity assessment in cell-based assays.

Background/Objectives: Although statins are still the main treatment for dyslipidemia, differences in patient responses, residual cardiovascular risk, and treatment side effects highlight the need for additional methods. Curcumin has attracted considerable interest because of its reported cardioprotective and lipid- and glucose-modulating effects, as well as its ability to influence cellular stress and survival pathways, highlighting its potential relevance to cardiovascular and metabolic disease. This study investigated the effects of atorvastatin (ATO), curcuminoid extract (CUR), and their combination on lipid and glucose metabolism and cell fate in hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell lines. Methods: Huh-7 cells were treated for 48 h with ATO (10 μM), CUR (20 μM), or their combination (MIX). MTT assays characterized concentration-dependent cytotoxicity and informed concentration selection, and CellTiter-Glo assessed cell viability. ApoB expression and secretion were evaluated by Western blot and ELISA. Lipid accumulation was assessed by Oil Red O microscopy and quantitative analysis. Glucose uptake was measured before and after insulin challenge. Additionally, expression of relevant genes regulating cholesterol, lipoprotein, and glucose metabolism was assessed by qPCR, and apoptosis was examined by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry and Western blotting for apoptotic markers. Results: The ATO-curcuminoid combination markedly reduced ApoB expression and secretion compared with control (p < 0.01). In contrast, the combination significantly increased intracellular lipid accumulation compared with control, ATO, and CUR (p < 0.001). Additionally, CUR and the ATO-curcuminoid combination significantly reduced glucose uptake before and after insulin challenge (p < 0.01; p < 0.001, respectively). Consistent with the impaired glucose uptake, the ATO-curcuminoid combination significantly reduced GLUT2 protein expression compared with control and ATO (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The ATO-curcuminoid combination also significantly increased early and late apoptosis and reduced viable-cell populations (p < 0.05; p < 0.01, respectively). Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that curcuminoids occupied the catalytic domain of HMG-CoA reductase and maintained conserved interactions with key residues, including GLY656, ASN658, and GLY808. Conclusions: ATO-curcuminoid co-treatment suppressed ApoB secretion but was accompanied by increased intracellular lipid accumulation, altered glucose uptake and GLUT2 expression, and apoptosis, indicating a discordant hepatic response. Computational analyses suggested potential interactions between curcuminoids and the catalytic region of HMG-CoA reductase; however, these findings are hypothesis-generating and require direct enzyme-inhibition and kinetic validation.

Background: Glucose handling in hepatocyte-derived cells integrates insulin-responsive AKT signaling with GLUT1-mediated glucose transport, jointly regulating substrate trafficking, glycogen synthesis, and cell survival. MK-2206, a potent allosteric AKT inhibitor, and BAY-876, a highly selective GLUT1 inhibitor, represent targeted approaches to disrupt these processes. However, the consequences of simultaneous inhibition of both nodes in hepatocyte-derived cells remain incompletely understood. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of simultaneous AKT inhibition and GLUT1 blockade on target engagement, cell viability, proliferation, cell death, glucose uptake, and glycogen storage in HepG2 cells. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with MK-2206, BAY-876, or their combination under basal hyperglycemic and acute insulin-challenged conditions. Multi-model synergy, AKT/GLUT1 pharmacological effects, cell viability, proliferation, cell death, glucose uptake, and glycogen storage were assessed, alongside exploratory molecular docking analyses of both inhibitors against their respective targets. Results: Dual AKT and GLUT1 inhibition produced combination-specific reductions in cell viability and showed a pattern of concurrent antiproliferative effects and increased Annexin V/PI positivity without detectable caspase-3 activation under insulin-challenged conditions. Furthermore, the dual inhibition of AKT signaling and GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake produced combination-specific reductions in basal glycogen content, while glucose uptake reductions showed AKT-dominant patterns without significant combination superiority over MK-2206 alone under either metabolic state. Exploratory molecular docking of MK-2206 and BAY-876 against AKT1 and SLC2A1/GLUT1, respectively, generated computationally predicted binding poses consistent with the established binding modes of these inhibitors. Conclusions: Dual AKT/GLUT1 targeting produces endpoint-specific patterns of pharmacological interaction on insulin-responsive metabolism, proliferation, and cell death in HepG2 hepatocyte-derived cells, distinguishing combination-specific effects from AKT-driven effects. These findings support an endpoint-specific pharmacological framework in which AKT signaling and BAY-876-mediated GLUT1 pharmacological effects jointly influence glucose handling and cell fate in a hepatocyte-derived model.