title: Effects of cardiotoxin III on NF-kappaB function, proliferation, and apoptosis in human breast MCF-7 cancer cells.
abstract: Cardiotoxin III (CTX III), a basic polypeptide with 60 amino acid residues isolated from Naja naja atra venom, has been reported to have anticancer activity. CTX III-induced apoptosis in human breast MCF-7 cancer cells was confirmed by sub-G1 formation, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage with an IC50 of 2 microg/ml at 48 h. Effects of CTX III on proliferation and apoptosis correlated with upregulation of Bax, and downregulation of Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, and XIAP, with no appreciable alteration on the protein levels of Bid, Bim, and survivin. CTX III treatment also caused release of mitochondrial cytochrome c to the cytosol, which led to subsequent activation of capase-9. Moreover, CTX III inhibited the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation through inhibition of IkappaB kinase (IkappaK) activity. Overall, our results indicate that CTX III downregulates NF-kappaB in MCF-7 cells, leading to the suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. These findings suggest the molecular basis for CTX III-induced apoptotic death of MCF-7 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chien-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Kuei-Li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ching-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Long-Sen
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shinne-Ren
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C082202:cardiotoxin III, Naja naja atra; D045304:Cytochromes c; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D020169:Caspases