Conus vexillum venom induces oxidative stress in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cells: an insight into the mechanism of induction

Background It is estimated that venoms of marine cone snails (genus Conus) contain more than 100,000 different small peptides with a wide range of pharmacological and biological actions. Some of these peptides were developed into potential therapeutic agents and as molecular tools to understand biological functions of nervous and cardiovascular systems. In this study we examined the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of the marine vermivorous cone snail Conus vexillum (collected from Hurgada and Sharm El-Shaikh, Red Sea, Egypt) and suggest the possible mechanisms involved. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of Conus venom were assessed against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Results Conus venom treatment resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity as indicated by a lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay. Apoptotic effects were measured in vivo by measuring levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative defense agents in albino mice injected with EAC cells. Conus venom (1.25 mg/kg) induced a significant increase ( p

背景 据估计，海洋芋螺属（Conus）芋螺的毒液中含有超过10万种不同的小分子肽，这类肽类具备广泛的药理学与生物学活性。其中部分肽类已被开发为潜在治疗药物，同时可作为分子工具，用于探究神经系统与心血管系统的生物学功能。本研究以采自埃及红海赫尔格达（Hurgada）与沙姆沙伊赫（Sharm El-Shaikh）的食蠕虫性海洋芋螺（Conus vexillum）为研究对象，考察其毒液的细胞毒性与抗癌活性，并探讨其潜在作用机制。本研究评估了芋螺毒液对艾氏腹水癌（Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma, EAC）细胞的体外细胞毒性效应。
结果 乳酸脱氢酶（lactate dehydrogenase, LDH）泄漏实验结果显示，芋螺毒液处理可引发浓度依赖性细胞毒性。通过向接种艾氏腹水癌细胞的白化小鼠体内检测活性氧（reactive oxygen species, ROS）水平与氧化防御因子含量，对其体内凋亡效应进行测定。1.25 mg/kg剂量的芋螺毒液可引发显著升高（p