Venom of the Phoneutria nigriventer spider alters the cell cycle, viability, and migration of cancer cells

Author(s)

dos Santos, Natalia Barreto ^[1] ; Bonfanti, Amanda Pires ^[1] ; Alves da Rocha-e-Silva, Thomaz Augusto ^[2] ; da Silva, Jr., Pedro Ismael ^[3] ; da Cruz-Hofling, Maria Alice ^[4] ; Verinaud, Liana ^[1] ; Raposo, Catarina ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Biol Estrutural & Func, Inst Biol, BR-13083865 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fac Israelita Ciencias Saude Albert Einstein, Ctr Educ Saude Abram Szajman, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Inst Butantan, Lab Especial Toxinol Aplicada, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Bioquim & Biol Tecidual, Inst Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Cellular Physiology; v. 234, n. 2, p. 1398-1415, FEB 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The mechanisms of cancer involve changes in multiple biological pathways. Multitarget molecules, which are components of animal venoms, are therefore a potential strategy for treating tumors. The objective of this study was to screen the effects of Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom (PnV) on tumor cell lines. Cultured human glioma (NG97), glioblastoma (U-251) and cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells, and nontumor mouse fibroblasts (L929) were treated with low (14 mu g/ml) and high (280 mu g/ml) concentrations of PnV, and analyzed through assays for cell viability (thiazolyl blue tetrazolium blue), proliferation (carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester), death (annexin V/propidium iodide {[}Pi]), the cell cycle (Pi), and migration (wound healing and transwell assay). The venom decreased the viability of U-251 cells, primarily by inducing cell death, and reduced the viability of NG97 cells, primarily by inhibiting the cell cycle. The migration of all the tumor cell lines was delayed when treated with venom. The venom significantly affected all the tumor cell lines studied, with no cytotoxic effect on normal cells (L929), although the nonglial tumor cell (HeLa) was less sensitive to PnV. The results of the current study suggest that PnV may be composed of peptides that are highly specific for the multiple targets involved in the hallmarks of cancer. Experiments are underway to identify these molecules. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/04194-0 - Identification of new molecules with chemotherapeutic effect in human glioma and characterization of the mechanism
• Grantee: Catarina Raposo Dias Carneiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/05402-0 - Identification and characterization of spider Phoneutria nigriventer isolated venom, with chemotherapeutic effect on brain tumor cells
• Grantee: Amanda Pires Bonfanti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 17/16196-2 - Analysis of the effects and mechanisms of the Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom on morphology and migration of tumor cells
• Grantee: Natália Barreto dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 16/15827-6 - Identification of new molecules with chemotherapeutic effect in human glioma and characterization of the mechanism
• Grantee: Catarina Raposo Dias Carneiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers