[Lethal effect of cytotoxin from Agkitrodon acutus venom on gastric cancer cells and their ultrastructure changes].
OBJECTIVE
To purify cytotoxin from Agkitrodon acutus venom, and study the lethal effect of cytotoxin on gastric cancer cells and their ultrastructure changes.


METHODS
The cytotoxin was isolated and purified with successive chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and TSKgel Pheny columns from Agkitrodon acutus venom. The feasibility of BGC-823 cells assessed using the MTT assay. The ultrastructure of BGC-823 cells treated with the cytotoxin was observed with the scanning and transmission electron microscope.


RESULTS
The purified cytotoxin H1 killed the gastric cancer cells. The cancer cell membrane and nuclear envelope were broken, mitochondria were swollen and intracellular substances were leaked out.


CONCLUSIONS
The cytotoxin from Agkitrodon acutus venom can kill the gastric cancer cells effectively.
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524000, China.
Jue
J
Lu
Fei-peng
FP
Xu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
C031442:Agkistrodon venoms; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D003603:Cytotoxins