[Inhibitory effect of the venom of spider Macrothele raveni on proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402 and its mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
Antitumor effect of spider venom has not been reported yet. This study was to explore inhibitory effect of the venom of spider Macrothele raveni on proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402 and its molecular mechanism.


METHODS
When treated with the venom of spider Macrothele raveni, proliferation of BEL-7402 cells was examined by MTT assay; DNA synthesis of BEL-7402 cells was tested by 3H-TdR incorporation; cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry; expression of C-myc was detected by Western blot.


RESULTS
The spider venom inhibited proliferation of BEL-7402 cells in time-dependent and concentration-dependent manners with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 20 microg/ml (48 h), and inhibited DNA synthesis of BEL-7402 cells. After treatment of the spider venom, apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells was enhanced, and cells were arrested in G(0)/G(1) phase; expression of C-myc was obviously down-regulated.


CONCLUSIONS
The venom of spider Macrothele raveni could inhibit proliferation and DNA synthesis of BEL-7402 cells, which might through inducing cell apoptosis, down-regulating C-myc, and arresting cell cycle progression of BEL-7402 cells.
Gao
Li
L
College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050016, PR China. gaoli0823@yahoo.com.cn
Feng
Wei
W
Shan
Bao-En
BE
Zhu
Bao-Cheng
BC
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism*; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D013111:Spider Venoms