Rhopalurus junceus scorpion venom induces antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo against a murine mammary adenocarcinoma model.

OBJECTIVES: In Cuba the endemic scorpion species Rhopalurus junceus has been used in traditional medicine for cancer treatment and related diseases. However there is no scientific evidence about its therapeutic potential for cancer treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the antitumor effect of scorpion venom against a murine mammary adenocarcinoma F3II. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytotoxic activity was determined by MTT assay with venom concentrations ranging from 0.1-1 mg/ml. Apoptosis was determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. Toxic effect in healthy animals and tumor growth kinetics in F3II bearing-mice were evaluated by using scorpion venom doses (0.2; 0.8; 3.2 mg/kg) after one and ten injections respectively by the intraperitoneal route . RESULTS: Scorpion venom induced a significant cytotoxic effect (P<0.05) in F3II cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The cell death event involves the apoptotic pathway due to up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes (p53, bax), down-regulation of antiapoptotic gene (bcl-2), and 33% of Annexin V+/PI- cells at early apoptosis and 10.21% of Annexin V+/PI+ cells at late apoptosis. Scorpion venom induced significant inhibition of tumor progression (P<0.05) in F3II bearing-mice in a dose-dependent manner. The antitumor effect was confirmed due to dose-dependent reduction of Ki-67 and CD31 proteins present in tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: Evidence indicates that scorpion venom can be an attractive natural product for deep investigation and developing a novel therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.

Anticuerpos monoclonales al virus dengue 4: espectro de reactividad a los 4 serotipos del dengue / Monoclonal antibodies to dengue virus 4: the spectrum of the reactivity to 4 serotypes of dengue

These types of monoclonal antibodies 8E8, 3F7 and 1E9 to dengue 4 virus H-241 strain. These monoclonal antibodies show various patterns of reactivity to the four dengue serotypes and different antigen preparations of serotype 4 when they were tested in various serological methods. The monoclonal antibody 8E8 exhibited a specificity of serotype (D-2; by hemagglutination inhibition); subcomplex (D-2 and D-4 by immunofluorescence) and complex (by immunoperoxidase technique). It was able to neutralize by 80 homologous virus and it turned out to be the only reactive monoclonal antibody in the complement fixation test. The monoclonal 3F7 did not react to by hemagglutination inhibition, recognized serotypes D-1, D-2, D-3 and D-4 by immunofluorescence and only serotypes D1 and D4 by immunoperoxidase technique but it was unable to neutralize the homologous virus. The 1E9 antibody was reactive to serotypes D1, D-2, D-3 and D-4 only by hemagglutination inhibition and neutralized serotype D-4. All the monoclonal antibodies were able to react to various dengue antigens through an ELISA of double antibody and showed fluorescent activity against 38th pass in Beagle dog kidney culture; however, they could not react to a D-4 recombinant antigen.