Effect of the extract of salivary glands of female Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) on inhibition and proliferation of tumor cells.

• Grant number: 13/00654-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Principal researcher: Maria Izabel Souza Camargo
• Grantee: Luís Adriano Anholeto
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ticks are bloodsucking ectoparasites of great medical and veterinary importance because they are vectors of many diseases. These arthropods produce an efficient saliva which ensures their feeding and survival. The saliva composition is enriched with molecules able to modulate the immune-inflammatory and hemostatic system of the host. This complex mixture has been the subject of several studies for identification and isolation of molecules with vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and anticoagulant effects. Recent research has shown that the saliva of the tick Amblyomma cajennense has potential to act at the coagulation processes and cytotoxic activity on tumor cells. Although the isolation of compounds of this nature have been much studied, it is not known exactly which is the morphophysiology of tumor cells when exposed to substances secreted by the ticks salivary gland, which includes the understanding of cellular mechanisms and routes which would change the face of this exposure. Thus, this work will analyze how the extract obtained from the salivary glands of female Rhipicephalus sanguineus fed for four days in rabbit host, acting on tumor cell line A549 (American Type Culture Collection - ATCC) and HEP - G2 (ATCC), analyzing the changes resulting from this exposure. Tests will be done: cell viability (MTT); quantification of NO by Griess test, detection of the activity of caspases by Confocal Microscopy Laser Scanning, and analysis of the organization and distribution of actin filaments by microscopy Fluorescence. Will also verified the pattern of transcription and processing of mRNAs involved in cell death processes, including gene products bax blc2, caspases (3, 8, 9), fas, iNOS and cytochrome c. There will be the characterization of proteins contained in the extract by Shotgun.