The Cytotoxic Effects of Partially Purified Cytotoxic Peptides of Naja naja Oxiana Venom on Human Glioblastoma Multiforme: An in vitro Study

• Published in: International journal of peptide research and therapeutics 2022-12, Vol.29 (1), p.14, Article 14
• Main Authors: Sinaei, Niloufar, Mirakabadi, Abbas Zare, Jafari, Elham, Karami-Mohajeri, Somayyeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Anatomy; Apoptosis; Bcl-2 protein; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brain cancer; Cancer therapies; Caspase; Cell culture; Cell cycle; Cell death; Cytotoxicity; Gene expression; Glioblastoma; Histology; Hydrogen peroxide; Life Sciences; Medical prognosis; Microscopy; Molecular Medicine; Morphology; Naja naja; Oxidative stress; Peptides; Pharmaceutical Sciences/Technology; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Polymer Sciences; Proteins; Reactive oxygen species; Snakes; Tumors; Venom
• ISSN: 1573-3904; 1573-3149; 1573-3904
• DOI: 10.1007/s10989-022-10479-x

The aim of this study is to assess the cytotoxic effects of partially purified cytotoxic peptides of Naja naja oxiana venom (PPCPNnov) in human Glioblastoma cell line (U-87MG cells). PPCPNnov were prepared by gel filtration of crude venom. U-87MG cells were exposed to different concentrations of PPCPNnov (10, 13/5 and 17 µg/ml). Results showed that PPCPNnov dose-dependently increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the percentage of apoptotic cells. Apoptosis at the concentration of 17 µg/ml was accompanied by an increase in the ratio of mRNA expression of BAX/BCL-2. It seems the production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) during the enzymatic reaction causing activation of caspase and/or the interaction of PPCPNnov with membrane receptors leading to the cell death process that should be further evaluated.