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Authors = Jinwei Chai

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18 pages, 14434 KiB  
Article
The Potent Antitumor Activity of Smp43 against Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer A549 Cells via Inducing Membranolysis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
by Ze Deng, Yahua Gao, Tienthanh Nguyen, Jinwei Chai, Jiena Wu, Jiali Li, Mohamed A. Abdel-Rahman, Xueqing Xu and Xin Chen
Toxins 2023, 15(5), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15050347 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2407
Abstract
Research has been conducted to investigate the potential application of scorpion venom-derived peptides in cancer therapy. Smp43, a cationic antimicrobial peptide from Scorpio maurus palmatus venom, has been found to exhibit suppressive activity against the proliferation of multiple cancer cell lines. However, its [...] Read more.
Research has been conducted to investigate the potential application of scorpion venom-derived peptides in cancer therapy. Smp43, a cationic antimicrobial peptide from Scorpio maurus palmatus venom, has been found to exhibit suppressive activity against the proliferation of multiple cancer cell lines. However, its impact on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines has not been previously investigated. This study aimed to determine the cytotoxicity of Smp43 towards various NSCLC cell lines, particularly A549 cells with an IC50 value of 2.58 μM. The results indicated that Smp43 was internalized into A549 cells through membranolysis and endocytosis, which caused cytoskeleton disorganization, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and abnormal apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and autophagy due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, the study explored the in vivo protective effect of Smp43 in xenograft mice. The findings suggest that Smp43 has potential anticarcinoma properties exerted via the inducement of cellular processes related to cell membrane disruption and mitochondrial dysfunction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Venom: Challenges and Perspectives in Drug Discovery)
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19 pages, 5647 KiB  
Article
Smp24, a Scorpion-Venom Peptide, Exhibits Potent Antitumor Effects against Hepatoma HepG2 Cells via Multi-Mechanisms In Vivo and In Vitro
by Tienthanh Nguyen, Ruiyin Guo, Jinwei Chai, Jiena Wu, Junfang Liu, Xin Chen, Mohamed A. Abdel-Rahman, Hu Xia and Xueqing Xu
Toxins 2022, 14(10), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14100717 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3503
Abstract
Scorpion-venom-derived peptides have become a promising anticancer agent due to their cytotoxicity against tumor cells via multiple mechanisms. The suppressive effect of the cationic antimicrobial peptide Smp24, which is derived from the venom of Scorpio Maurus palmatus, on the proliferation of the [...] Read more.
Scorpion-venom-derived peptides have become a promising anticancer agent due to their cytotoxicity against tumor cells via multiple mechanisms. The suppressive effect of the cationic antimicrobial peptide Smp24, which is derived from the venom of Scorpio Maurus palmatus, on the proliferation of the hepatoma cell line HepG2 has been reported earlier. However, its mode of action against HepG2 hepatoma cells remains unclear. In the current research, Smp24 was discovered to suppress the viability of HepG2 cells while having a minor effect on normal LO2 cells. Moreover, endocytosis and pore formation were demonstrated to be involved in the uptake of Smp24 into HepG2 cells, which subsequently interacted with the mitochondrial membrane and caused the decrease in its potential, cytoskeleton reorganization, ROS accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and alteration of apoptosis- and autophagy-related signaling pathways. The protecting activity of Smp24 in the HepG2 xenograft mice model was also demonstrated. Therefore, our data suggest that the antitumor effect of Smp24 is closely related to the induction of cell apoptosis, cycle arrest, and autophagy via cell membrane disruption and mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting a potential alternative in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Animal Venoms in China)
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13 pages, 2645 KiB  
Article
The Strong Anti-Tumor Effect of Smp24 in Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells Depends on Its Induction of Mitochondrial Dysfunctions and ROS Accumulation
by Ruiyin Guo, Xuewen Chen, Tienthanh Nguyen, Jinwei Chai, Yahua Gao, Jiena Wu, Jinqiao Li, Mohamed A. Abdel-Rahman, Xin Chen and Xueqing Xu
Toxins 2022, 14(9), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14090590 - 27 Aug 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2843
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of death in lung cancer due to its aggressiveness and rapid migration. The potent antitumor effect of Smp24, an antimicrobial peptide derived from Egyptian scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus via damaging the membrane and cytoskeleton [...] Read more.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of death in lung cancer due to its aggressiveness and rapid migration. The potent antitumor effect of Smp24, an antimicrobial peptide derived from Egyptian scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus via damaging the membrane and cytoskeleton have been reported earlier. However, its effects on mitochondrial functions and ROS accumulation in human lung cancer cells remain unknown. In the current study, we discovered that Smp24 can interact with the cell membrane and be internalized into A549 cells via endocytosis, followed by targeting mitochondria and affect mitochondrial function, which significantly causes ROS overproduction, altering mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression of cell cycle distribution-related proteins, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, MAPK, as well as PI3K/Akt/mTOR/FAK signaling pathways. In summary, the antitumor effect of Smp24 against A549 cells is related to the induction of apoptosis, autophagy plus cell cycle arrest via mitochondrial dysfunction, and ROS accumulation. Accordingly, our findings shed light on the anticancer mechanism of Smp24, which may contribute to its further development as a potential agent in the treatment of lung cancer cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Animal Venoms in China)
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16 pages, 3981 KiB  
Article
Scorpion Peptide Smp24 Exhibits a Potent Antitumor Effect on Human Lung Cancer Cells by Damaging the Membrane and Cytoskeleton In Vivo and In Vitro
by Ruiyin Guo, Junfang Liu, Jinwei Chai, Yahua Gao, Mohamed A. Abdel-Rahman and Xueqing Xu
Toxins 2022, 14(7), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14070438 - 28 Jun 2022
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3669
Abstract
Smp24, a cationic antimicrobial peptide identified from the venom gland of the Egyptian scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus, shows variable cytotoxicity on various tumor (KG1a, CCRF-CEM and HepG2) and non-tumor (CD34+, HRECs, HACAT) cell lines. However, the effects of Smp24 and [...] Read more.
Smp24, a cationic antimicrobial peptide identified from the venom gland of the Egyptian scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus, shows variable cytotoxicity on various tumor (KG1a, CCRF-CEM and HepG2) and non-tumor (CD34+, HRECs, HACAT) cell lines. However, the effects of Smp24 and its mode of action on lung cancer cell lines remain unknown. Herein, the effect of Smp24 on the viability, membrane disruption, cytoskeleton, migration and invasion, and MMP-2/-9 and TIMP-1/-2 expression of human lung cancer cells have been evaluated. In addition, its in vivo antitumor role and acute toxicity were also assessed. In our study, Smp24 was found to suppress the growth of A549, H3122, PC-9, and H460 with IC50 values from about 4.06 to 7.07 µM and show low toxicity to normal cells (MRC-5) with 14.68 µM of IC50. Furthermore, Smp24 could induce necrosis of A549 cells via destroying the integrity of the cell membrane and mitochondrial and nuclear membranes. Additionally, Smp24 suppressed cell motility by damaging the cytoskeleton and altering MMP-2/-9 and TIMP-1/-2 expression. Finally, Smp24 showed effective anticancer protection in a A549 xenograft mice model and low acute toxicity. Overall, these findings indicate that Smp24 significantly exerts an antitumor effect due to its induction of membrane defects and cytoskeleton disruption. Accordingly, our findings will open an avenue for developing scorpion venom peptides into chemotherapeutic agents targeting lung cancer cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Animal Venoms in China)
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11 pages, 1648 KiB  
Article
Brevinin-2GHk, a Peptide Derived from the Skin of Fejervarya limnocharis, Inhibits Zika Virus Infection by Disrupting Viral Integrity
by Weichen Xiong, Jingyan Li, Yifei Feng, Jinwei Chai, Jiena Wu, Yunrui Hu, Maolin Tian, Wancheng Lu, Xueqing Xu and Min Zou
Viruses 2021, 13(12), 2382; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13122382 - 28 Nov 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2944
Abstract
Several years have passed since the Zika virus (ZIKV) pandemic reoccurred in 2015–2016. However, there is still a lack of proved protective vaccines or effective drugs against ZIKV. The peptide brevinin-2GHk (BR2GK), pertaining to the brevinin-2 family of antimicrobial peptides, has been reported [...] Read more.
Several years have passed since the Zika virus (ZIKV) pandemic reoccurred in 2015–2016. However, there is still a lack of proved protective vaccines or effective drugs against ZIKV. The peptide brevinin-2GHk (BR2GK), pertaining to the brevinin-2 family of antimicrobial peptides, has been reported to exhibit only weak antibacterial activity, and its antiviral effects have not been investigated. Thus, we analyzed the effect of BR2GK on ZIKV infection. BR2GK showed significant inhibitory activity in the early and middle stages of ZIKV infection, with negligible cytotoxicity. Furthermore, BR2GK was suggested to bind with ZIKV E protein and disrupt the integrity of the envelope, thus directly inactivating ZIKV. In addition, BR2GK can also penetrate the cell membrane, which may contribute to inhibition of the middle stage of ZIKV infection. BR2GK blocked ZIKV E protein expression with an IC50 of 3.408 ± 0.738 μΜ. In summary, BR2GK was found to be a multi-functional candidate and a potential lead compound for further development of anti-ZIKV drugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antivirals for Arboviruses)
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