Selective Toxicity Effect of Chrysaora quinquecirrha Crude Venom on Human Colorectal Tumor Cells by Directly Targeting Mitochondria

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.

2 Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

3 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

4 Department of Marine Toxinology, Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Persian Gulf Biomedical Research Center, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: Compounds isolated from marine animals have different pharmacological effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of sea nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) crude venom on human colon cancer mitochondria. Methods: First, mitochondria were isolated from healthy colon tissue and cancerous colon tissue, and then mitochondrial function (SDH activity), reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse, mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release were measured. Results: The results showed that crude venom of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (180, 360 and 720 µg/ml) can significantly impair mitochondrial function (**P<0.01 and ***P<0.001) and consequently increase the level of ROS (*P<0.05 and ****P<0.0001), collapse in MMP (*P<0.05 and ****P<0.0001), mitochondrial swelling (**** P<0.0001) and release of cytochrome c (* P<0.05 and *** P<0.001) only in mitochondria isolated from human colon cancer tissue. Conclusion: The results concluded that crude venom of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (180, 360 and 720 µg/ml) has no side effects on normal mitochondria and only selectively affects cancerous mitochondria. It seems that after further research, Chrysaora quinquecirrha can be considered as a drug candidate for the treatment of patients with colon cancer.

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