Resistance of cervical adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa) to venom from the scorpion Centruroides limpidus limpidus

Abstract

BackgroundThe venom of Centruroides limpidus limpidus (Cll) is a mixture of pharmacologically active principles. The most important of these are toxic proteins that interact both selectively and specifically with different cellular targets such as ion channels. Recently, anticancer properties of the venom from other scorpion species have been described. Studies in vitro have shown that scorpion venom induces cell death, inhibits proliferation and triggers the apoptotic pathway in different cancer cell lines. Herein, after treating human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells with Cll crude venom, their cytotoxic activity and apoptosis induction were assessed.ResultsCll crude venom induced cell death in normal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. However, through viability assays, HeLa cells showed high survival rates after exposure to Cll venom. Also, Cll venom did not induce apoptosis after performing ethidium bromide/acridine orange assays, nor was there any evidence of chromatin condensation or DNA fragmentation.ConclusionsCrude Cll venom exposure was not detrimental to HeLa cell cultures. This may be partially attributable to the absence of specific HeLa cell membrane targets for molecules present in the venom of Centruroides limpidus limpidus. Although these results might discourage additional studies exploring the potential of Cll venom to treat human papilloma cervical cancer, further research is required to explore positive effects of crude Cll venom on other cancer cell lines.

Cytotoxic activity of Androctonus australis hector venom and its toxic fractions on human lung cancer cell line

“…The variations in response to crude venom on growth of the four cell types after 24 h exposure might be a result of the complex composition of the venom and/or the targets expressed on cancer cells [ 12 ]. This observation is consistent with previous studies in which venoms of other scorpions such as Rhopalurus junceus , Androctonus crassicauda and Centruroides limpidus limpidus also induced selective and differential cytotoxicity against different human malignant cell lines [ 12 , 36 , 37 ].…”

Tityus serrulatusScorpion Venom Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

“…This approach can hypothesize that this susceptibility differential may be related to the expression of the HeLa cell, recognized by the TsV venom. Indeed, as seen by Contreras-Ortiz and colleagues [30], venom of the scorpion Centruroides limpidus limpidus was not cytotoxic to HeLa cell cultures, suggesting that this may be partially attributable to the absence of specific cell membrane targets for molecules present in the venom.…”

Cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of black widow spiderling extract against HeLa cells

“…However, the sensitivity of HeLa cells to scorpion venom may vary with the source of the venom. Contreras-Ortiz et al (33) found that the venom from the scorpion Centruroides limpidus was not detrimental to HeLa cell cultures. HeLa cells had high survival rates following exposure to the venom, which did not induce apoptosis and there was no evidence of chromatin condensation or DNA fragmentation (33).…”