Rhopalurus junceus scorpion venom induces antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo against a murine mammary adenocarcinoma model

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Research Department, Laboratories of Biopharmaceuticals and Chemistries Productions (LABIOFAM), Havana, Cuba

2 Microbiology Department, Tropical Medicine Institute “Pedro Kouri”, Havana, Cuba

3 Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Padova University, Italy

4 Investigation Department, Laboratory of Experimental pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology National Institute, Havana, Cuba

5 Laboratory of pathology, Tropical Medicine Institute “Pedro Kouri”, Havana, Cuba

Abstract

Objective(s): In Cuba the endemic scorpion species Rhopalurus junceus has been used in traditional medicine for cancer treatment and related diseases. However there is no scientific evidence about its therapeutic potential for cancer treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the antitumor effect of scorpion venom against a murine mammary adenocarcinoma F3II.
Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic activity was determined by MTT assay with venom concentrations ranging from 0.1–1 mg/ml. Apoptosis was determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. Toxic effect in healthy animals and tumor growth kinetics in F3II bearing-mice were evaluated by using scorpion venom doses (0.2; 0.8; 3.2 mg/kg) after one and ten injections respectively by the intraperitoneal route.
Results: Scorpion venom induced a significant cytotoxic effect (P<0.05) in F3II cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The cell death event involves the apoptotic pathway due to up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes (p53, bax), down-regulation of antiapoptotic gene (bcl-2), and 33% of Annexin V+/PI- cells at early apoptosis and 10.21% of Annexin V+/PI+ cells at late apoptosis. Scorpion venom induced significant inhibition of tumor progression (P<0.05) in F3II bearing-mice in a dose-dependent manner. The antitumor effect was confirmed due to dose-dependent reduction of Ki-67 and CD31 proteins present in tumor tissue.
Conclusion: Evidence indicates that scorpion venom can be an attractive natural product for deep investigation and developing a novel therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 22, Issue 7
July 2019
Pages 759-765

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