title: Effects of spider Macrothele raven venom on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in HeLa cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of venom from the spider Macrothele raven on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in human cervical carcinoma, HeLa cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphological and biochemical signs of apoptosis appeared using acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. Marked morphological changes in HeLa cells after treatment with spider venom were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined by [methyl-3H] thymidine assay ([3H]TdR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, respectively. DNA fragmentation and cell cycle distribution were monitored using flow cytometry. In addition, Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the level of caspase-3 expression. In vivo examination of the inhibition of the size of tumors in nude mice treated with spider venom was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Marked morphological changes were observed using AO/EB staining, SEM and TEM assay. Spider venom at concentrations of 10-40 mg/L caused dose- and time-dependent inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation. The ratio of apoptosis and necrosis increased. The activity of caspase-3 was upregulated after spider venom treatment. In vivo study of tumor size revealed that tumors significantly decreased in size from controls to tumors treated for 3 weeks with spider venom (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inhibition of HeLa cells by the venom of the spider Macrothele raveni was carried out in three ways: induction of apoptosis, necrosis of toxicity damage and direct lysis. Spider venom is a novel anti-tumor material both in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bao-en
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Da-xiang
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Bao-cheng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013111:Spider Venoms; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases