title: In vitro studies on Bothrops venoms cytotoxic effect on tumor cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal venoms are complex mixtures of proteins and non proteins components with several biological activities. Snake venoms represent an essentially unexplored source of bioactive compounds that may cure disease conditions which do not respond to currently available therapies. These venoms possess many pharmacological activities, as cytotoxic and/or lytic effects on tumor cells in vitro. Herein, were investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity of three Bothrops venoms in tumor cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytotoxic effect was evaluated in HCT-8 (colon - human), SF-295 (nervous system - human), HL-60 (human leukemia) and MDAMB-435 (breast - human). Cell density and membrane integrity were determined by the exclusion of propidium iodide. To determine whether Bothrops venoms treated cells were undergoing an apoptotic and/ or necrosis death, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization was measured after the incubation with the venom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Botrhops venons showed significant cytotoxcity against all cell lines in study. Cell density and membrane integrity were determined by the exclusion of propidium iodide. The Bothrops venoms reduced the cell number and revealed the presence of a necrotic population when the cells was exposed to the B. pauloensis B. diporus and B. pirajai venoms. To determine whether Bothrops venoms treated cells were undergoing an apoptotic and/or necrosis death, PS externalization was measured after the incubation with the venom and it was observed necrotic and apoptotic cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All Bothrops venoms tested showed cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines through inducing of necrosis and apoptosis.
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors: Roberta J B
authors: RJ
authors: Jorge
authors: Alice M C
authors: AM
authors: Martins
authors: Isabel C O
authors: IC
authors: Morais
authors: Rafael M
authors: RM
authors: Ximenes
authors: Felipe A R
authors: FA
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Bruno M
authors: BM
authors: Soares
authors: Janaina S A M
authors: JS
authors: Evangelista
authors: Marcos H
authors: MH
authors: Toyama
authors: Aline M A
authors: AM
authors: Martins
authors: Manoel O
authors: MO
authors: Moraes Filho
authors: Helena S A
authors: HS
authors: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017837:Bothrops; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D009423:Nervous System Neoplasms
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms