Human breast carcinoma cells are induced to apoptosis by samsum ant venom through an IGF-1-dependant pathway, PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling.
In the present study we evaluated the anti-tumor potential of samsum ant venom (SAV) from Pachycondyla sennaarensis on the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7. We found that SAV induced growth arrest of MCF-7 cells without affecting the viability of MCF-10 (non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial cells) and normal PBMCs. We then analyzed its impact on IGF-1-mediated MCF-7 cell proliferation and its effect on the underlying IGF-1 signaling pathways. Using flow cytometry analysis, we showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells was fourfold higher in SAV-treated cells as compared to untreated cells. More importantly, treatment with SAV induced a marked reduction in actin polymerization and a subsequent marked reduction in IGF-1-mediated cell proliferation. In addition to growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects, significant reductions were also observed in the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK, but not p38MAPK, in SAV-treated cells as compared to untreated cells. Our data reveal unique anti-tumor effects of samsum ant venom.
King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. badr73@yahoo.com
Gamal
G
Badr
Olivier
O
Garraud
Maha
M
Daghestani
Mohammed Saleh
MS
Al-Khalifa
Yolande
Y
Richard
D000862:Ant Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*
D000862:Ant Venoms; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases