RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The spider venom may inspire new drugs to treat cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects and mechanisms of spider venom on lung adenocarcinoma cell A549. METHODS: The proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells was detected by MTT. The apoptosis rate was observed with MTT assay and flow cytometer. The activity of catalase was detected by colorimetry. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was determined by improved thiobarbituric acid fluorometric method. The expression of P38MAPK protein was analyzed with Western blot. RESULTS: Spider venom can remarkably inhibite the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, increased activity of catalase and MDA content, down-regulated expression of P38MAPK compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by spider venom is may be associated with the increased of activity of catalase and MDA content and decreased expression of P38MAPK.
