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Offor BC, Piater LA. Snake venom toxins: Potential anticancer therapeutics. J Appl Toxicol 2024; 44:666-685. [PMID: 37697914 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Snake venom contains a cocktail of compounds dominated by proteins and peptides, which make up the toxin. The toxin components of snake venom attack several targets in the human body including the neuromuscular system, kidney and blood coagulation system and cause pathologies. As such, the venom toxins can be managed and used for the treatment of these diseases. In this regard, Captopril used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases was the first animal venom toxin-based drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. Cancers cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to side effects associated with the current cancer treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgery, there is a need to improve the efficacy of current treatments and/or develop novel drugs from natural sources including animal toxin-based drugs. There is a long history of earlier and ongoing studies implicating snake venom toxins as potential anticancer therapies. Here, we review the role of crude snake venoms and toxins including phospholipase A2, L-amino acid oxidase, C-type lectin and disintegrin as potential anticancer agents tested in cancer cell lines and animal tumour models in comparison to normal cell lines. Some of the anti-tumour activities of snake venom toxins include induction of cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of metastasis, angiogenesis and tumour growth. We thus propose the advancement of multidisciplinary approaches to more pre-clinical and clinical studies for enhanced bioavailability and targeted delivery of snake venom toxin-based anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedict C Offor
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa
| | - Lizelle A Piater
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa
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Arestakesyan H, LeFevre N, Posnack N, Sarian A, Grigoryan V, Ayvazyan N, Voskanyan A, Sarvazyan N, Karabekian Z. Changes in attachment and metabolic activity of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes and nonmyocytes caused by Macrovipera lebetina obtusa venom. Toxicol In Vitro 2024; 95:105755. [PMID: 38061605 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2023.105755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The Caucasian viper Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (MLO) is one of the most prevalent and venomous snakes in the Caucasus and the surrounding regions, yet the effects of MLO venom on cardiac function remain largely unknown. We examined the influence of MLO venom (crude and with inhibited metalloproteinases and phospholipase A2) on attachment and metabolic activity of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes (CM) and nonmyocytes (nCM), assessed at 1 and 24 h. After exposing both CM and nCM to varying concentrations of MLO venom, we observed immediate cytotoxic effects at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, causing detachment from the culture substrate. At lower MLO venom concentrations both cell types detached in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of MLO venom metalloproteinases significantly improved CM and nCM attachment after 1-hour exposure. At 24-hour exposure to metalloproteinases inhibited venom statistically significant enhancement was observed only in nCM attachment. However, metabolic activity of CM and nCM did not decrease upon exposure to the lower dose of the venom. Moreover, we demonstrated that metalloproteinases and phospholipases A2 are not the components of the MLO venom that change metabolic activity of both CM and nCM. These results provide a valuable platform to study the impact of MLO venom on prey cardiac function. They also call for further exploration of individual venom components for pharmaceutical purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hovhannes Arestakesyan
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences, 22 Orbeli Bros. St., Yerevan 0028, Armenia; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Narine LeFevre
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Nikki Posnack
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA; Children's National Heart Institute, Sheikh Zayed Institute of Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Arni Sarian
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences, 22 Orbeli Bros. St., Yerevan 0028, Armenia
| | - Vahan Grigoryan
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences, 22 Orbeli Bros. St., Yerevan 0028, Armenia
| | - Naira Ayvazyan
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences, 22 Orbeli Bros. St., Yerevan 0028, Armenia
| | - Armen Voskanyan
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences, 22 Orbeli Bros. St., Yerevan 0028, Armenia
| | - Narine Sarvazyan
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences, 22 Orbeli Bros. St., Yerevan 0028, Armenia; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Zaruhi Karabekian
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences, 22 Orbeli Bros. St., Yerevan 0028, Armenia; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
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Kazaryan S, Farsiyan L, Tumoyan J, Kirakosyan G, Ayvazyan N, Gasparyan H, Buloyan S, Arshakyan L, Kirakosyan A, Hovhannisyan A. Oxidative stress and histopathological changes in several organs of mice injected with biogenic silver nanoparticles. ARTIFICIAL CELLS, NANOMEDICINE, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 50:331-342. [DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2022.2149931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shushanik Kazaryan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Lilit Farsiyan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Juleta Tumoyan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Naira Ayvazyan
- Orbeli Institute of Physiology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hrachik Gasparyan
- Scientific Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Sona Buloyan
- Scientific Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Lilit Arshakyan
- Scientific Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Ara Kirakosyan
- Department of Chemistry, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Ashkhen Hovhannisyan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
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How snake venom disintegrins affect platelet aggregation and cancer proliferation. Toxicon 2022; 221:106982. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Chi K, Zou Y, Liu C, Dong Z, Liu Y, Guo N. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A induces DNA damage in hepatocytes and liver tissues. Toxicon 2022; 221:106980. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Ayvazyan N, Ghukasyan G, Ghulikyan L, Kirakosyan G, Sevoyan G, Voskanyan A, Karabekyan Z. The Contribution of Phospholipase A 2 and Metalloproteinases to the Synergistic Action of Viper Venom on the Bioenergetic Profile of Vero Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14110724. [PMID: 36355974 PMCID: PMC9695613 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing concern about the use of animal models has stimulated the development of in vitro cell culture models for analysis of the biological effects of snake venoms. However, the complexity of animal venoms and the extreme synergy of the venom components during envenomation calls for critical review and analysis. The epithelium is a primary target for injected viper venom's toxic substances, and therefore, is a focus in modern toxinology. We used the Vero epithelial cell line as a model to compare the actions of a crude Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Levantine viper) venom with the actions of the same venom with two key enzymatic components inhibited (specifically, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and metalloproteinases) in the bioenergetic cellular response, i.e., oxygen uptake and reactive oxygen species generation. In addition to the rate of free-radical oxidation and lipid peroxidation, we measured real-time mitochondrial respiration (based on the oxygen consumption rate) and glycolysis (based on the extracellular acidification rate) using a Seahorse analyzer. Our data show that viper venom drives an increase in both glycolysis and respiration in Vero cells, while the blockage of PLA2 or/and metalloproteinases affects only the rates of the oxidative phosphorylation. PLA2-blocking in venom also increases cytotoxic activity and the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. These data show that certain components of the venom may have a different effect within the venom cocktail other than the purified enzymes due to the synergy of the venom components.
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Kennedy DC, Coen B, Wheatley AM, McCullagh KJA. Microvascular Experimentation in the Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane as a Model for Screening Angiogenic Agents including from Gene-Modified Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:452. [PMID: 35008876 PMCID: PMC8745510 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay model of angiogenesis has been highlighted as a relatively quick, low cost and effective model for the study of pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. The chick CAM is a highly vascularised extraembryonic membrane which functions for gas exchange, nutrient exchange and waste removal for the growing chick embryo. It is beneficial as it can function as a treatment screening tool, which bridges the gap between cell based in vitro studies and in vivo animal experimentation. In this review, we explore the benefits and drawbacks of the CAM assay to study microcirculation, by the investigation of each distinct stage of the CAM assay procedure, including cultivation techniques, treatment applications and methods of determining an angiogenic response using this assay. We detail the angiogenic effect of treatments, including drugs, metabolites, genes and cells used in conjunction with the CAM assay, while also highlighting the testing of genetically modified cells. We also present a detailed exploration of the advantages and limitations of different CAM analysis techniques, including visual assessment, histological and molecular analysis along with vascular casting methods and live blood flow observations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antony M. Wheatley
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, National University of Ireland, H91 W5P7 Galway, Ireland; (D.C.K.); (B.C.)
| | - Karl J. A. McCullagh
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, National University of Ireland, H91 W5P7 Galway, Ireland; (D.C.K.); (B.C.)
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Ghazaryan N, Movsisyan N, Macedo JC, Vaz S, Ayvazyan N, Pardo L, Logarinho E. Macrovipera lebetina obtusa Snake Venom as a Modulator of Antitumor Effect in S-180 Sarcoma Mouse Model. Mol Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893321020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Akhtar B, Muhammad F, Sharif A, Anwar MI. Mechanistic insights of snake venom disintegrins in cancer treatment. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 899:174022. [PMID: 33727054 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Snake venoms are a potential source of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds with a defensive role for the host. Various peptides with significant medicinal properties have been isolated and characterized from these venoms. Few of these are FDA approved. They inhibit tumor cells adhesion, migration, angiogenesis and metastasis by inhibiting integrins on transmembrane cellular surfaces. This plays important role in delaying tumor growth, neovascularization and development. Tumor targeting and smaller size make them ideal candidates as novel therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. This review is based on sources of these disintegrins, their targeting modality, classification and underlying anti-cancer potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Akhtar
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Faqir Muhammad
- Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ali Sharif
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Allied Health Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Irfan Anwar
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
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Haddoub C, Rima M, Heurtebise S, Lawand M, Jundi D, Sadek R, Amigorena S, Fajloun Z, Karam MC. Cytotoxic effect of Montivipera bornmuelleri's venom on cancer cell lines: in vitro and in vivo studies. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9909. [PMID: 33194364 PMCID: PMC7597635 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Montivipera bornmuelleri’s venom has shown immunomodulation of cytokines release in mice and selective cytotoxicity on cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, highlighting an anticancer potential. Here, we extend these findings by elucidating the sensitivity of murine B16 skin melanoma and 3-MCA-induced murine fibrosarcoma cell lines to M. bornmuelleri’s venom and its effect on tumor growth in vivo. Methods The toxicity of the venom on B16 and MCA cells was assessed using flow cytometry and xCELLigence assays. For in vivo testing, tumor growth was followed in mice after intratumoral venom injection. Results The venom toxicity showed a dose-dependent cell death on both B16 and MCA cells. Interestingly, overexpression of ovalbumin increased the sensitivity of the cells to the venom. However, the venom was not able to eradicate induced-tumor growth when injected at 100 µg/kg. Our study demonstrates a cytotoxic effect of M. bornmuelleri’s venom in vitro which, however, does not translate to an anticancer action in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Haddoub
- Department of Biology, University of Balamand, Kalhat, Al-Kurah, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Rima
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), INSERM, CNRS, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Myriam Lawand
- Institut Curie, INSERM U932, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Dania Jundi
- LAB3B, Doctoral School for Sciences and Technology, Azm Centre for Research in Biotechnology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.,Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Biology Paris-Seine (IBPS), INSERM, CNRS, Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle (Paris III), Paris, France
| | - Riyad Sadek
- Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Ziad Fajloun
- LAB3B, Doctoral School for Sciences and Technology, Azm Centre for Research in Biotechnology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.,Faculty of Sciences 3, Michel Slayman Tripoli Campus, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Marc C Karam
- Department of Biology, University of Balamand, Kalhat, Al-Kurah, Lebanon
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Urra FA, Araya-Maturana R. Putting the brakes on tumorigenesis with snake venom toxins: New molecular insights for cancer drug discovery. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 80:195-204. [PMID: 32428714 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells exhibit molecular characteristics that confer them different proliferative capacities and survival advantages to adapt to stress conditions, such as deregulation of cellular bioenergetics, genomic instability, ability to promote angiogenesis, invasion, cell dormancy, immune evasion, and cell death resistance. In addition to these hallmarks of cancer, the current cytostatic drugs target the proliferation of malignant cells, being ineffective in metastatic disease. These aspects highlight the need to identify promising therapeutic targets for new generations of anti-cancer drugs. Toxins isolated from snake venoms are a natural source of useful molecular scaffolds to obtain agents with a selective effect on cancer cells. In this article, we discuss the recent advances in the molecular mechanisms of nine classes of snake toxins that suppress the hallmarks of cancer by induction of oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction, reactive oxygen species-dependent DNA damage, blockage of extracellular matrix-integrin signaling, disruption of cytoskeleton network and inhibition of growth factor-dependent signaling. The possible therapeutic implications of toxin-based anti-cancer drug development are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix A Urra
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago 7800003, Chile; Network for Snake Venom Research and Drug Discovery, Santiago 7800003, Chile.
| | - Ramiro Araya-Maturana
- Network for Snake Venom Research and Drug Discovery, Santiago 7800003, Chile; Instituto de Química de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile; Programa de Investigación Asociativa en Cáncer Gástrico, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile.
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