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Volume 30
Issue 11
10.3390/molecules30112277
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Cell-Specific Vulnerability of Human Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma Cells to Mephedrone—An In Vitro Study

by
Marta Marszalek-Grabska
1,
Marta Kinga Lemieszek
2,
Michal Chojnacki
2,
Sylwia Winiarczyk
2,
Joanna Jakubowicz-Gil
3,
Barbara Zarzyka
4,
Jarosław Pawelec
4,
Jolanta H. Kotlinska
5,
Wojciech Rzeski
2,3 and
Waldemar A. Turski
6,*
1
Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
2
Department of Medical Biology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
3
Department of Functional Anatomy and Cytobiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
4
Institute Microscope Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
5
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
6
Department of Neurotoxicology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2025, 30(11), 2277; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112277
Submission received: 26 March 2025 / Revised: 17 May 2025 / Accepted: 19 May 2025 / Published: 22 May 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly aggressive intrinsic brain tumor with a very poor survival rate. The main treatment for cancer is surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy. Since the outcomes of treatment are unsatisfactory, the search for more effective drugs is crucial. Our previous study indicated that mephedrone, a synthetic cathinone, reduced neuron and astrocyte viability and oligodendrocyte proliferation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of mephedrone on selected human glioblastoma (LN-18, LN-229, T98G) and human anaplastic astrocytoma (MOGGCCM) cell lines. The effects of mephedrone on cell viability and proliferation, DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression and the type of cell death were studied. Our results showed that mephedrone possesses potential anticancer activity. The viability and proliferation of all four human glioblastoma and human anaplastic astrocytoma cell lines used were decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Studies conducted on LN-18 and T98G cells confirmed the significant antiproliferative properties of mephedrone, which reduced DNA synthesis and affected cell cycle progression. Microscopic evaluation supported the antiproliferative effect of the tested compounds. Moreover, substantial cytoplasmic vacuolization in the LN-18 cell line was revealed. This finding may indicate the potential of mephedrone in anticancer therapy.
Keywords: mephedrone; glioblastoma; cell lines; proliferation; vacuolization mephedrone; glioblastoma; cell lines; proliferation; vacuolization

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MDPI and ACS Style

Marszalek-Grabska, M.; Lemieszek, M.K.; Chojnacki, M.; Winiarczyk, S.; Jakubowicz-Gil, J.; Zarzyka, B.; Pawelec, J.; Kotlinska, J.H.; Rzeski, W.; Turski, W.A. Cell-Specific Vulnerability of Human Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma Cells to Mephedrone—An In Vitro Study. Molecules 2025, 30, 2277. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112277

AMA Style

Marszalek-Grabska M, Lemieszek MK, Chojnacki M, Winiarczyk S, Jakubowicz-Gil J, Zarzyka B, Pawelec J, Kotlinska JH, Rzeski W, Turski WA. Cell-Specific Vulnerability of Human Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma Cells to Mephedrone—An In Vitro Study. Molecules. 2025; 30(11):2277. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112277

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marszalek-Grabska, Marta, Marta Kinga Lemieszek, Michal Chojnacki, Sylwia Winiarczyk, Joanna Jakubowicz-Gil, Barbara Zarzyka, Jarosław Pawelec, Jolanta H. Kotlinska, Wojciech Rzeski, and Waldemar A. Turski. 2025. "Cell-Specific Vulnerability of Human Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma Cells to Mephedrone—An In Vitro Study" Molecules 30, no. 11: 2277. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112277

APA Style

Marszalek-Grabska, M., Lemieszek, M. K., Chojnacki, M., Winiarczyk, S., Jakubowicz-Gil, J., Zarzyka, B., Pawelec, J., Kotlinska, J. H., Rzeski, W., & Turski, W. A. (2025). Cell-Specific Vulnerability of Human Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma Cells to Mephedrone—An In Vitro Study. Molecules, 30(11), 2277. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112277

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