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. 2014 Aug 23;11(5):105-10.
doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v11i5.17. eCollection 2014.

Inhibition effects of scorpion venom extracts (Buthus matensii Karsch) on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Weiling Li  1 , Ye Li  1 , Yuwan Zhao  1 , Jieli Yuan  2 , Weifeng Mao  1
Affiliations

Inhibition effects of scorpion venom extracts (Buthus matensii Karsch) on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Weiling Li et al. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: To observe the inhibition effects of the Buthus matensii Karsch (BmK) scorpion venom extracts on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and to explore its mechanisms.

Methods: Two common tumor cells (SMMC7721, MCF-7) were examined for the one which wasmore sensitivity to scorpion venom by MTT method. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemistry was applied to detect apoptosis-related protein Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 levels, while the expression of cell cycle-related protein Cyclin D1 was shown by Western blotting.

Results: Our data indicated that MCF-7 was the more sensitive cell line to scorpion venom. The extracts of scorpion venom could inhibit the growth and proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the extract of scorpion venom induced apoptosis through Caspase-3 up-regulation while Bcl-2 down-regulation in MCF-7 cells. In addition, the extracts of scorpion venom blocked the cells from G0/G1 phase to S phase and decreased cell cycle-related protein Cyclin D1 level after drug intervention compared with the negative control group.

Conclusions: These results showed that the BmK scorpion venom extracts could inhibit the growth of MCF-7 cells by inducing apoptosis and blocking cell cycle in G0/G1 phase. The BmK scorpion venom extracts will be very valuable for the treatment of breast cancer.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Buthus matensii Karsch; MCF-7; cell cycle; scorpion venom.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of scorpion venom on survival rate of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human hepatoma cells (SMMC7721) at various times. Effect of BmK scorpion venom extracts on the growth of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human hepatoma cells (SMMC7721) at various times. Cells were treated with BmK scorpion venom extracts (600 µg/mL) for different time (4h, 8h, 12h, 16h, 24h). The inhibiting rate of the cell growth was determined by MTT assay and expressed using the following equation: inhibiting rate (%) = (1-Abstest/Abscont). The data were the average from two independent assays
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of different concentrations of scorpion venom on survival rate of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human hepatoma cells (SMMC7721). Effect of different concentrations of BmK scorpion venom extracts on the growth of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human hepatoma cells (SMMC7721). Cells were treated with scorpion venom extracts (100µg/mL, 200µg/mL, 400µg/mL, 600µg/mL, 800µg/mL) for 24h. The inhibiting rate of the cell growth was determined by MTT assay and expressed using the following equation: inhibiting rate (%) = (1-Abstest/Abscont). The data were the average from two independent assays.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of experimental BmK scorpion venom on the expression of apoptotic proteins. Scorpion venom extract induces activation of intrinsic apoptotic pathway. A and B, Representative immunohistochemistry photograph under microscope (100×) of control and 600 µg/mL BmK scorpion venom extracts treated MCF-7 cells stained for caspase-3. C and D, Representative Immunohistochemistry photograph under microscope (100×) of controls and 600 µg/mL BmK scorpion venom extracts treated MCF-7 cells stained for Bcl-2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of experimental BmK scorpion venom on the cell cycle of MCF-7 cells. Percentage of cells in different cell cycle phases after incubated with 600 µg/mL BmK scorpion venom extracts (SVE) for 24 h in MCF-7 cells by flow cytometry. Data shown are mean levels (+ SEM) from three independent experiments. T test was applied for statistical analysis. *, P < 0.05.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of the BmK scorpion venom on the expression of cell cycle related protein Cyclin D1. Effects of scorpion venom on Cyclin D1 protein. MCF-7 cells were treated with 600 µg/mL of BmK scorpion venom extracts (SVE) for 24 h. Protein from the total cell lysate was subjected to Western blot analysis for cyclin D1 protein. β-actin was used as an internal control. Representative results are shown from three independent experiments.
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