Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer Treatment
Melittin, a major component found in bee venom, is produced by the <i>Apis</i> species of the honey bee. In this study, the effect of melittin derived from <i>Apis florea</i> (Mel-AF), which is a wild honey bee species that is indigenous to Thailand, was investigated against...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/8/517 |
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| author | Sirikwan Sangboonruang Kuntida Kitidee Panuwan Chantawannakul Khajornsak Tragoolpua Yingmanee Tragoolpua |
| author_facet | Sirikwan Sangboonruang Kuntida Kitidee Panuwan Chantawannakul Khajornsak Tragoolpua Yingmanee Tragoolpua |
| author_sort | Sirikwan Sangboonruang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Melittin, a major component found in bee venom, is produced by the <i>Apis</i> species of the honey bee. In this study, the effect of melittin derived from <i>Apis florea</i> (Mel-AF), which is a wild honey bee species that is indigenous to Thailand, was investigated against human malignant melanoma (A375) cells. In this study, Mel-AF exhibited considerable potential in the anti-proliferative action of A375 cells. Subsequently, the cellular mechanism of Mel-AF that induced cell death was investigated in terms of apoptosis. As a result, gene and protein expression levels, which indicated the activation of cytochrome-c release and caspase-9 expression, eventually triggered the release of the caspase-3 executioner upon Mel-AF. We then determined that apoptosis-mediated cell death was carried out through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Moreover, advanced abilities, including cell motility and invasion, were significantly suppressed. Mel-AF manipulated the actin arrangement via the trapping of stress fibers that were found underneath the membrane, which resulted in the defective actin cytoskeleton organization. Consequently, the expression of EGFR, a binding protein to F-actin, was also found to be suppressed. This outcome strongly supports the effects of Mel-AF in the inhibition of progressive malignant activity through the disruption of actin cytoskeleton-EGFR interaction and the EGFR signaling system. Thus, the findings of our current study indicate the potential usefulness of Mel-AF in cancer treatments as an apoptosis inducer and a potential actin-targeting agent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:27:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0eaec3941ffa4a089e3378d6dbb21240 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:27:02Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0eaec3941ffa4a089e3378d6dbb212402023-11-20T10:08:48ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822020-08-019851710.3390/antibiotics9080517Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer TreatmentSirikwan Sangboonruang0Kuntida Kitidee1Panuwan Chantawannakul2Khajornsak Tragoolpua3Yingmanee Tragoolpua4Biotechnology Section, Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandCenter for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, ThailandDivision of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandMelittin, a major component found in bee venom, is produced by the <i>Apis</i> species of the honey bee. In this study, the effect of melittin derived from <i>Apis florea</i> (Mel-AF), which is a wild honey bee species that is indigenous to Thailand, was investigated against human malignant melanoma (A375) cells. In this study, Mel-AF exhibited considerable potential in the anti-proliferative action of A375 cells. Subsequently, the cellular mechanism of Mel-AF that induced cell death was investigated in terms of apoptosis. As a result, gene and protein expression levels, which indicated the activation of cytochrome-c release and caspase-9 expression, eventually triggered the release of the caspase-3 executioner upon Mel-AF. We then determined that apoptosis-mediated cell death was carried out through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Moreover, advanced abilities, including cell motility and invasion, were significantly suppressed. Mel-AF manipulated the actin arrangement via the trapping of stress fibers that were found underneath the membrane, which resulted in the defective actin cytoskeleton organization. Consequently, the expression of EGFR, a binding protein to F-actin, was also found to be suppressed. This outcome strongly supports the effects of Mel-AF in the inhibition of progressive malignant activity through the disruption of actin cytoskeleton-EGFR interaction and the EGFR signaling system. Thus, the findings of our current study indicate the potential usefulness of Mel-AF in cancer treatments as an apoptosis inducer and a potential actin-targeting agent.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/8/517melittin<i>Apis florea</i>malignant melanomaapoptosisF-actinepidermal growth factor receptor |
| spellingShingle | Sirikwan Sangboonruang Kuntida Kitidee Panuwan Chantawannakul Khajornsak Tragoolpua Yingmanee Tragoolpua Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer Treatment Antibiotics melittin <i>Apis florea</i> malignant melanoma apoptosis F-actin epidermal growth factor receptor |
| title | Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer Treatment |
| title_full | Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer Treatment |
| title_short | Melittin from <i>Apis florea</i> Venom as a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Skin Cancer Treatment |
| title_sort | melittin from i apis florea i venom as a promising therapeutic agent for skin cancer treatment |
| topic | melittin <i>Apis florea</i> malignant melanoma apoptosis F-actin epidermal growth factor receptor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/8/517 |
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