RESUMO
PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer potential of Egyptian scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus venom (ScV) or human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioning medium (hWJ-MSCs-CM)/CM against breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line as an alternative effective cancer biotherapy. METHODS: Venom (ScV) toxicity was performed recording concentration-dependent viability % and ScV IC50 value was in the order of 100 µg/ml. MCF-7 were treated with hWJ-MSCs-CM used as (25%, 50%, and 75% ml) or the IC50 of ScV. Apoptotic activity was traced via evaluation the apoptotic (Bax, Casp-3, and Casp-9) and anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl2, ALDOA, and PKM2) profile. RESULTS: Both Bax and Casp-3 showed a significant upregulation while anti-apoptotic genes were significantly downregulated. In the meantime, Casp-3 and Casp-9 protein were monitored using ELISA, and their level was less than in control. Additionally, MCF-7 apoptosis was monitored using flow cytometry recording a significant DNA accumulation in the G0-G1 and S phases in case of cell treatment with ScV or CM75% ml and 50% ml. Also, there was a significant total necrotic cells % compared with control cells, and total apoptosis under the effect of ScV or CM75% ml was significantly elevated than rest of treatment. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis induction was both dose- and time-dependent for hWJ-MSCs-CM and ScV. According to the present study and other studies, there is an ample evidence that hWJ-MSCs-CM and the venom IC50 abolish tumor growth.
